How Much Is Too Much? A Mother’s Plea After Losing Her Daughter to Work Pressure
It’s hard to even put into words the sorrow that comes from hearing about the loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. She was just 26, with her whole life ahead of her—a bright, ambitious young woman who had achieved so much already. A school and college topper, she worked hard to become a Chartered Accountant, landing her first job at EY, a company she was so excited to join. Like many of us in our first jobs, she was filled with hope and dreams for the future. But instead of growing and thriving, the weight of unrealistic work demands crushed her.
Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a powerful letter to EY, highlighting the toxic work culture that glorified overworking and pushed employees beyond their limits. The constant late nights, unrelenting workload, and dismissive responses from her managers made it impossible for her to catch her breath. Despite her deteriorating health, Anna kept pushing herself, believing that hard work would pay off. Her family begged her to quit, but like so many of us, she thought she needed to persevere. Sadly, the job that was supposed to be her stepping stone to success ended up taking her life.
What’s even more heartbreaking is that after Anna passed, no one from her company attended her funeral. Her mother expressed the pain and shock of seeing how little empathy was shown for her daughter, who gave everything to her job. Can you imagine the devastation of losing a loved one like this and then seeing their efforts and dedication so easily brushed aside?
This should make all of us stop and reflect. How many of us have pushed ourselves past our limits because we felt we had no other choice? How many times have we put our work above our health, thinking that success demands it? Anna’s experience is a reminder that no job—no matter how prestigious—is worth sacrificing your life for.
If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed by work, please take a moment to breathe. Know that it’s okay to set boundaries, it’s okay to say no, and it’s okay to prioritize your health above everything else. Your life and your peace of mind are more important than any project or deadline.
Anna’s loss is heartbreaking, but it doesn’t have to be in vain. Let’s share her story far and wide,and start advocating for real change in how workplaces treat their people. Because no one should ever lose their life in the pursuit of a job. It’s time we make sure no one else has to go through what Anna did. Let’s honor her by standing up for ourselves and each other, and by creating workplaces that truly value people over productivity.
