Investigation Launched Into 26-Year-Old's Death During Her First Job After Mom Alleges 'Relentless' Work

Officials say they have opened an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old employee of major accounting firm Ernst & Young after the woman’s mother claimed she suffered under an “overwhelming workload.”

Anna Sebastian Perayil, who worked for a member firm of the company in Pune, India, died in July, according to her mom, Anita Augustine.

Further details about Perayil’s death were not available.

Augustine wrote in a viral letter, also obtained by various news outlets, that Perayil had “worked tirelessly at EY” but "the workload, new environment, and the long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally."

According to Reuters, citing a government official, the office where Perayil worked also did not have a permit that regulated its work hours.

“The relentless demands and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations are not sustainable,” Augustine wrote in her letter, “and they cost us the life of a young woman with so much potential.”

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Shobha Karandlaje, the national government’s union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises and labour & employment, subsequently announced on X, on Thursday, Sept. 19, that the ministry was looking into "the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment."

“We are committed to ensuring justice & [the Ministry of Labor] has officially taken up the complaint,” Karandlaje wrote.

A spokesman for Ernst & Young said in a statement to PEOPLE that "our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family" and that they are "providing ... full cooperation" with the government investigation but cannot comment further.

The spokesman confirmed that Perayil was employed through a local "member firm" for about four months.

"That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us," they said.

"While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so," the spokesman added. "We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility."

According to Perayil’s mother, Perayil had begun “experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after joining” Ernst & Young “but she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success.”

Augustine added in her letter that Perayil felt "management took full advantage" of her daughter being new to the company.

"This is a systemic issue that goes beyond individual managers and teams,” Augustine wrote.

Peryail joined the company — in her first job — four months before dying, Augustine wrote in her letter, addressed to Ernst & Young India's chairman, Rajiv Memani.

Memani acknowledged the letter in a LinkedIn post on Sept. 19, saying he was "deeply saddened."

"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. This is completely alien to our culture. It has never happened before; it will never happen again," he said, insisting that the "well-being of our people is my top-most priority."

He continued: "I am absolutely committed to nurturing a harmonious workplace, and I will not rest until that objective is accomplished.”