The screenshots reveal the gruelling work schedule, with employees enduring 20-hour shifts but only able to log a maximum of 15 hours. (Image Source: iStock)
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Anna Sebastian was a chartered accountant with Ernst and Young India
- She died just four months into her first job at the firm.
- Jayesh Jain shared screenshots of a chat with a colleague to point out that corporate life is "tough".
Amid massive outrage over the death of a 26-year-old Anna Sebastian with Ernst and Young India, a former employee of a multinational company has come forward to share his own experience of toxic work culture in India's corporate sector. Jayesh Jain, from Indore, shared personal experience at Deloitte - that included 20-hour work days - to point out that corporate life is "tough". "I can totally understand what Anna would have gone through," he said in a post on X. Anna Sebastian died just four months into her first job at the firm.
To prove his point, Jayesh Jain attached some screenshots of chats with his teammate where they were discussing the work and our health at 5AM in the morning.
The screenshots reveal the grueling work schedule, with employees enduring 20-hour shifts but only able to log a maximum of 15 hours. "Always remember you are just an employee number for them. But for your family you are everything," he said.
One message, , timestamped at 5:12 AM, read, "I was also sitting here with a lot all the time for FI-HI doubts."
Another screenshot shows Jain's colleague messaging at 4:08 AM, "Bahot ho gaya" (That's enough), and later suggested to "turn off the laptop". Another message shows his colleague saying, "I will definitely file a complaint."
The screenshots reveal the work stress employees undergo on a daily basis.
Showing empathy for Anna's family, Jain wrote, "Always remember you are just an employee number for them. But for your family you are everything".
Jain's post was widely shared since it was shared on September 18.
Some of the users also shared their personal experiences.
A user mentioned about his friend working in one of the Big 4 firm was asked to punch in only 9-10 hours and he is working more than 14 hours each day.
Amid growing outrage, the Union Labour Ministry has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Anna Sebastian's death. Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje confirmed that the ministry is looking into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment at the company.
Anna's mother, has called on Ernst & Young's leadership to address the culture that “glorifies overwork” while neglecting employee well-being.
