Recent incidents have drawn attention to the serious effects of work-related stress in India, following the tragic deaths of two female employees. The first incident involved Sadaf Fatima, deputy vice president at HDFC Bank's Vibhuti Khand branch in Lucknow, who fainted at her workplace and was declared dead at a nearby hospital. Witnesses Report Fatima suddenly fainted after taking a pill in her office cafeteria.
In another tragic case, Anna Sebastian Perayil, an employee of Ernst & Young (EY) India in Pune, also died due to work pressure. Anna had joined EY just four months ago, but her mother claimed that she died due to excessive workload and “glorification of overwork”.
Anna Sebastian Perayil's story highlights the culture of overwork
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a talented young professional who passed the Chartered Accountant exams in 2023, had just started her career with EY India. Despite her potential, she found herself burdened by the workload in the audit team. Her mother's letter revealed how Anna worked late into the night and on weekends, eventually leaving her exhausted. The lack of support from the company was evident, as no representative from EY attended her funeral. Anna's story underlines the broader issues of excessive work culture that many employees face in corporate environments today.
Political leaders demanded action
The tragic deaths of Sadaf Fatima and Anna Perayil have evoked strong reactions from political leaders, including Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. Yadav expressed deep concern over the deteriorating working conditions across India, saying that the condition of employees is now worse than bonded labourers, with no basic right to voice their concerns. He criticised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's response, which suggested stress management instead of addressing the root causes of the problem.
Urgent need for workplace reform
These heartbreaking events highlight the critical need for organizational and governmental intervention. Political leaders and employee advocates are demanding urgent workplace reforms to prioritize employee well-being. The deaths of these young professionals are a stark reminder that organizations must take steps to reduce work-related stress and create healthier, more supportive work environments for all.
