In a heartbreaking incident, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant working at a renowned multinational corporation (MNC) in India recently passed away, with her grieving mother attributing the cause to overwhelming work stress. Anita Augustine, mother of the late employee Anna Augustine, claims that her daughter’s relentless workload, anxiety, and sleepless nights ultimately led to her untimely demise.

Anita described her daughter as someone who excelled in everything she did. "She was too young to set boundaries and faced an overwhelming workload, which I believe contributed to her health problems and eventually her death,” Anita explained.

Anna had always believed that hard work and perseverance were keys to success. Shortly after starting her job, she began experiencing severe anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress, yet continued to work tirelessly. Anita recalled how Anna had dreamed of bringing her parents to her convocation, even booking their flight tickets with her hard-earned money. Tragically, during their visit, Anna couldn’t fully enjoy the moment due to the constant pressure from her job.

Anna’s parents, who traveled from Kochi to Pune for the convocation on July 6, were concerned about her worsening health. Anita shared how Anna complained of chest constriction, and a cardiologist warned it was due to lack of sleep and irregular eating habits. Despite the health scare, Anna returned to work immediately after seeing the doctor, citing the unrelenting workload and her inability to get time off.

Things took a turn for the worse when Anna was transferred to a new team. Her manager informed her that many employees had resigned due to the excessive workload, and she was asked to stay and prove her capabilities. “My child didn’t realize she would pay for that with her life,” Anita’s letter reads.

Anna’s work environment became even more challenging as her manager frequently rescheduled meetings during cricket matches and assigned last-minute tasks, further increasing her stress. She often worked late into the night, on weekends, and endured relentless late-night calls from her assistant manager with urgent demands. When Anna voiced her concerns about the pressure, she was told, "You can work at night; that’s what we all do."

Anita’s letter emphasizes that her daughter’s experience is not an isolated incident but highlights a toxic work culture that glorifies overwork at the expense of the well-being of employees. “This is not just about my daughter; it’s about every young professional who enters a job full of hopes and dreams, only to be crushed under the weight of unrealistic expectations,” she wrote.

Anna’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the need for corporate environments to prioritize the health and well-being of their employees and reevaluate the culture of overwork and burnout that continues to plague many industries today.

Source / Image Credit : EconomicTimes, Life Math Money, Times Now