The death of Anna Sebastian Perayil has brought into focus the question of the relationship between labour, capital and human beings. It was not the death itself but the refusal of Anita Sebastian, mother of Anna to accept it as a normal death and her decision to write a strong letter to the head of the CA firm Ernst & Young holding the work culture of the firm which made it a public issue and forced the government and the political class to take cognisance of it.

Anita Sebastian held Ernst & Young responsible for the death of her young daughter Anna. It burdened Anna with an impossible workload which ultimately crushed her.

She said “Anna would never have blamed her managers. She was too kind for that. But I cannot remain silent. Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever… You should show some consideration to new employees. Instead, the management took full advantage of the fact that she was new and overwhelmed her with both assigned and unassigned work,”

What Anna’s mother wrote next was written by Karl Marx some 175 years ago. Anita writes, “Anna’s experience sheds light on a work culture that seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the roles.”

Her daughter is gone but Anita knows that it is not about her alone: “This is not just about my daughter, it’s about every young professional who joins EY filled with hopes and dreams, only to be crushed under the weight of unrealistic expectations… Anna’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY. It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organisation and take meaningful steps to prioritise the health and wellness of your employees,”

Anita speaks like a labour rights activist when she demands that an environment should be created where employees feel safe to speak up, get support to manage their workload and “where their mental and physical well-being is not sacrificed for the sake of productivity”.

Anita is questioning the sacred principle of productivity which is a beautiful substitute for the familiar PROFIT at the alter of which everything and anything can be sacrificed.

Anita talks about her daughter: that her daughter was full of life and........

© The Wire