Rahul Gandhi Vows to Combat Toxic Corporate Work Culture After Tragic Death of Ernst & Young Employee Anna Sebastian

In the wake of widespread outrage following the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian, an employee of Ernst & Young (EY), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has pledged to fight for healthier work environments across India’s corporate sector. Speaking with Sebastian’s parents via video call on Saturday, Gandhi expressed his condolences and promised to tackle the toxic work culture that has been blamed for her untimely death.

A statement released by the All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC) revealed that Gandhi praised the courage of Sebastian’s family for speaking out during such a painful time. He assured them that he would take up their cause in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition. “I will personally fight for this issue to ensure that no more young lives are lost to unbearable work pressure,” Gandhi said, committing to making a change for millions of professionals working in high-stress environments across India.

Anna Sebastian, a talented chartered accountant from Kerala, had joined EY’s Pune office earlier this year. Tragically, she passed away in July, just four months into her job, due to what her family claims was “intense work pressure.” Her mother, Anita Augustine, recently sent a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, highlighting the brutal demands of the corporate workplace and how they affect young professionals.

In response, Gandhi instructed the AIPC to launch an awareness campaign in memory of Anna Sebastian. AIPC President Praveen Chakravarty said, “Rahul has called for the creation of an awareness movement dedicated to improving working conditions for professionals. He has also directed the launch of a helpline to gather feedback from corporate workers experiencing stress and toxic environments.”

Chakravarty further announced that the AIPC will soon issue draft guidelines aimed at improving the working conditions in corporate offices. These will be designed to address the pressing concerns raised by Sebastian’s death and similar cases across the country.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also voiced his concerns over the grueling work culture, particularly within corporate offices. Tharoor suggested that India should consider adopting a 40-hour workweek, citing it as a possible solution to prevent the devastating consequences of overwork.

Anna Sebastian’s tragic death has sparked a nationwide conversation about corporate responsibility and the need for policies to safeguard employees’ mental and physical health. With Rahul Gandhi now at the forefront of this cause, pressure is mounting on companies to re-evaluate their working conditions to avoid future tragedies.