New Delhi: Rajeev Memani, Chairman of Ernest & Young India, has denied complaints from Ann Sebastian’s family that job pressure led to the death of employee Ann Sebastian. The response comes after a letter from Ann’s mother to the head of Ernest & Young India went viral on social media, sparking widespread protests.
Discussing the matter, Memani stated that Ann was granted the same work opportunities as any other employee and dismissed claims that job pressure could have endangered her life. “We have about 100,000 employees, and there is no doubt that everyone has to work hard. Ann worked with us for only four months. She was given the same job opportunities as any other employee. We do not believe that job pressure would take her life,” Memani was quoted by the Indian Express. He expressed condolences for Ann’s death, calling it an irreplaceable loss for both her family and the company.
Ann was part of the audit team at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, and joined the firm on March 18, 2024. Memani stated, “The loss to the family is irreplaceable, and while we cannot compensate for it, we have always provided support in such difficult times, and that will continue.”
He also revealed that he had responded to the letter from Ann’s mother, Anita Augustine, assuring her of full support along with further steps to improve systems.
“We take the correspondence from the family with the utmost seriousness and respect. We prioritize the welfare of all employees and will continue to find ways to enhance a healthy work environment for our 100,000 people in EY member firms across India,” he added.
Anita Augustine shared that Ann’s first job was with EY and that she was “thrilled” to join the company. Describing Ann as a “warrior,” she noted that Ann excelled in school and college, consistently topping her exams. According to her, Ann worked tirelessly at EY and dedicated herself to facing the challenges of the job.
