Stop glorifying toxicity in the name of hustle. That’s the message that we all need to take seriously after the tragic death of CA Anna Sebastian. Unfortunately, Anna is not alone. The toxic glorification of overwork has become pervasive in corporate culture, with fatal consequences.
A joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) revealed alarming statistics: in just one year, 700,000 people died from stroke and heart diseases linked to long working hours. The pressure to work excessive hours is not just unhealthy, it’s deadly. As more people fall victim to this relentless pursuit of productivity, it’s crucial to acknowledge the toxic environments that breed these conditions.
Anna Sebastian was just 26 years old, full of dreams and aspirations, and had an entire future ahead of her. But her life was tragically cut short, and her death has sparked an outcry about the culture that demands employees sacrifice their well-being for the sake of their careers. Despite the tragedy, the head of EY India, the company where Anna worked, defended the organization’s culture. In response to the allegations surrounding her death, he stated, “We don’t believe work pressure could’ve claimed her life,” and further added that she had been “allotted work like any other employee.”
This response, while attempting to deflect responsibility, highlights the disconnect that often exists between management and the real experiences of employees on the ground. In a LinkedIn post following the incident, the EY India head offered condolences to Anna’s family, expressing regret for missing her funeral and describing her death as “completely alien” to the company’s culture. He vowed to prioritize employee well-being, promising that “this has never happened before; it will never happen again.”
However, actions speak louder than words. While corporate leaders may publicly commit to creating a healthier work environment, the reality for many employees often tells a different story. Anna’s mother, in her grief, has alleged that her daughter’s death was not an isolated incident but rather the result of a toxic work environment where excessive demands and high-pressure expectations were the norm.
The tragedy of Anna’s death has now prompted an investigation by the Labor Ministry, but it is crucial that the conversation does not end there. We cannot afford to forget this loss, nor can we ignore the wider issue of toxic work cultures that continue to take a toll on employees around the world.
The glorification of overwork is so deeply ingrained in corporate culture that working long hours is often seen as a badge of honor. Employees who boast about working 16 hours a day are often praised for their dedication, while those who advocate for a healthy work-life balance are dismissed as less committed. This mentality needs to change. Wanting a balanced life is not a weakness; it is a necessity. The normalization of overworking is dangerous, and we must challenge it at every opportunity.
Work should not come at the expense of health. Yet, many managers push their teams to their limits, using toxic methods to drive productivity and meet targets. Employees are often made to feel that this pressure is necessary to succeed and that any resistance is a sign of laziness or inadequacy. But no deadline, target, or financial goal is more important than a person’s life.
Anna’s death is a stark reminder that this culture of overwork and pressure has devastating consequences. A mother has lost her daughter, a life filled with potential has been extinguished, and the corporate world continues to function as though this is an acceptable cost of doing business. It is not.
The broader issue is that toxic workplace cultures are not unique to a single company or industry. Across the globe, employees face burnout, exhaustion, and deteriorating health due to unrealistic expectations placed on them. The hustle culture—where overworking is glorified and even romanticized—creates a narrative that the only path to success is through relentless effort and sacrifice. But this is not a sustainable model, nor is it healthy.
We need to stop glorifying overworking and start treating people as humans, not machines. Employees are not resources to be used up and discarded once they are burnt out. They are individuals with lives, families, and futures that should not be sacrificed for corporate gain. Employers have a responsibility to foster environments where well-being is prioritized, where mental and physical health are protected, and where work-life balance is encouraged.
This means rejecting the toxic narratives that equate long hours with success. It means calling out harmful practices when we see them and holding companies accountable for the environments they create. And it means advocating for change, not just in response to tragic incidents like Anna’s death, but as a fundamental shift in how we approach work.
The conversation surrounding work-life balance, mental health, and employee well-being is one that cannot be silenced. We must continue to raise awareness, share stories, and demand better conditions for workers. It’s not enough to offer condolences after the fact or make promises of change without taking concrete actions.
The case of Anna Sebastian is a heartbreaking reminder of the real costs of toxic work environments. But it also presents an opportunity for us to collectively re-examine the way we view work. It’s time to push back against the glorification of hustle culture and advocate for workplaces where people’s well-being is valued as much as their productivity.
Let this tragedy be a wake-up call to corporations everywhere: stop glorifying overwork. Stop pushing employees to the brink in pursuit of profits and targets. Start prioritizing health, happiness, and balance. No job is worth losing your life over, and no company should ever be allowed to demand that kind of sacrifice.
As we reflect on Anna’s death, let us also commit to ensuring that no other employee has to suffer the same fate. Share her story, talk about the dangers of toxic work culture, and push for meaningful change. Because until we do, the cycle of overwork and burnout will continue to claim more lives, and we cannot afford to let that happen.