The recent death of Ernst & Young (EY) employee Anna Sebastian Perayil, allegedly due to severe overwork, has reignited discussions around toxic work cultures, particularly after a video of BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover went viral. In the clip, Grover recounted his own experience of quitting EY on his very first day, despite being offered a lucrative ₹1 crore package.

Grover humorously described his exit, saying, “I walked into the office, looked around and pretended to have chest pain to get out.” He characterized the atmosphere as lifeless, referring to colleagues as “mare huwe” (dead) and “laash” (corpses). Despite his unsettling remarks, he controversially suggested that the best workplaces are those deemed "toxic," claiming that productive work often arises from such environments.

This perspective drew sharp criticism from billionaire industrialist Harsh Goenka, who shared the video and condemned Grover for endorsing a toxic culture. Goenka emphasized the need for a healthy work environment, especially in light of Anna’s tragic passing, which her mother attributed to extreme workplace pressures. In her heartfelt letter, Anna's mother accused EY of neglecting employee welfare and highlighted the lack of support during their family's time of grief.

In response to these events, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani addressed the situation, vowing to create a harmonious workplace and expressing regret over the absence of company representatives at Anna's funeral. He described this lack of support as “completely alien to our culture,” emphasizing the importance of nurturing a respectful and caring work environment.