EY India Chairman Regrets Absence At Staffer’s Funeral; Govt To Probe Toxic Workplace Allegations

New Delhi: If the death of 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) staffer Anna Sebastian was not bad enough, there was none from the company present at her funeral.

Expressing regret, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani said it’s against the company’s values.

“I deeply regret that we were not present at Anna’s funeral. This is completely against our values. It has never happened before, and it will never happen again,” Memani stated in a LinkedIn post.

Emphasising his commitment to employees’ well-being, Memani added, “The well-being of our people is my top priority, and I will personally ensure this is upheld. I am fully dedicated to fostering a harmonious workplace and will not rest until that goal is achieved.”

Memani’s post came after Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje announced that the ministry had initiated an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace environment at EY.

Sebastian, who joined EY in Pune recently, reportedly passed away due to work-related stress. Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a heartfelt letter to Memani, expressing concerns about the excessive workload her daughter faced as a newcomer to the company.

“I am deeply saddened and as a father, I can only imagine Ms Augustine’s grief. I have conveyed my deepest condolences to the family, although nothing can fill the void in their lives. I truly regret the fact that we missed being present at Anna’s funeral,” Memani wrote.