In the wake of Ernst & Young (EY) employee Anna Sebastian Perayil’s tragic death, reportedly due to “overwork,” a past video of BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover discussing toxic work environments has resurfaced on social media. In the clip, Grover recounts how he left EY on his very first day, despite being offered a ₹1 crore salary.
Ashneer Grover explained that he faked chest pain to leave the office, saying, “I walked into the office, looked around, and pretended to have chest pain to get out.” He described the office environment as lifeless, likening the employees to “mare huwe” (dead) and “laash” (corpses).
He then made a controversial statement, asserting that the best offices are often labeled “toxic” because, in his opinion, that’s where work gets done. “If anyone is saying an office has a toxic culture, then that one is the best,” Grover added.
The video was shared by industrialist Harsh Goenka, who criticized Grover for endorsing a “toxic work environment.” On X (formerly Twitter), Goenka expressed his disbelief, stating, “It’s baffling to see anyone advocate for a toxic environment,” using the hashtag #AnnaPerayil.
It’s baffling to see anyone advocate for a toxic environment. #AnnaPerayil
Your views? pic.twitter.com/QhPnCeKhxq— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) September 19, 2024
Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old chartered accountant who joined EY’s Pune office four months prior, passed away in July after allegedly enduring extreme work pressure. In a letter, Anna’s mother claimed her daughter died due to “overwork” and accused the company of neglecting its employees’ well-being. She also expressed disappointment that no one from EY attended Anna’s funeral and urged the company to reassess its work culture.
EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani responded to the incident, writing on LinkedIn that he is committed to fostering a harmonious workplace. “I will not rest until that objective is accomplished,” Memani wrote, expressing regret that no one from the company attended the funeral, a situation he described as “completely alien to our culture.”
