The disturbing case of a young accountant who recently died, allegedly from work exhaustion, has provoked global discussions about toxic work environments.

A Young Lady’s Sudden Death

Anna Sebastian Perayil was a 26-year-old accountant at the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune, India, who died suddenly after working for just four months in the company. In a private letter to the chairman of EY India that was somehow leaked to the public, Anna’s mother Anita Augustine blamed toxic work, namely the distressing work load and negative work environment, for her daughter’s untimely death.

“The work load, new environment and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally. She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness and stress soon after joining,” shares Augustine. “But she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success.”

Her mother added that aside from the already heavy workload, she would be passed on added work on top of the official work by some managers, giving her no time to rest.

“Anna confided in us about the overwhelming work load, especially the additional tasks assigned verbally beyond the official work. I would tell her not to take on such tasks, but the managers were relentless,” discloses Augustine.

In an interview with the Economic Times, Anna’s father Sibi Joseph said that the fact that the letter was leaked shows that other employees wanted the truth to be known by the public. “The letter was leaked from EY’s Pune office which means there are many people similarly suffering in the company who want the letter to be out in public,” he said.

In fact, a report by UK publication The Independent shared that others have come forward on social media to share their own toxic work experiences. One of whom even claimed to be a colleague of Anna, and corroborated her mother’s allegations. “We average 16 hours a day, 12 hours a day [during the] non-busy season. No weekends or public holidays are off”, the Reddit user called PreposterousSyndrom said.

Bad Bosses and Lack of Work-Life Balance

In the Philippines, many Human Resource experts say that whether a work environment is happy or toxic largely depends on the leadership or the lack of it.

“The usual top reason for staying or leaving is the boss,” admits Chel Dantes, former HR Head and current chairman and president of executive search firm Keystone Integrated Options.

She says that the mean boss who raises their voice and/or humiliates their team members is one of the top complaints.

Other concerns are overworking employees and compromising work-life balance, as well as salaries that are not commensurate with the work load and demands.

A senior recruitment director who requested anonymity adds that boss bullying is a real problem that triggers many to leave a company.

In Anna’s case, for instance, the lack of support from her superiors and tendency to pass on additional work to subordinates amplified the stressful work environment. The fact that her mother said Anna’s concern was simply shrugged off and dismissed when she expressed her concerns to a superior might have only aggravated her emotional and physical state.

The recruitment director adds that discontent also grows when an employee feels that health and personal time are compromised. “Toxicity comes when there’s no work-life harmony,” she asserts. The director shares that she has even encountered people who opted to take a career break due to burn-out or developed serious illnesses such as cancer due to accumulated stress at work.

What You Can Do

In a LinkedIn article, various HR practitioners and career coaches mapped out a counter-offense to manage a toxic work environment:

Identify the sources of toxicity

Keep a record of the situations that trigger your negative emotions. Try to recognize the factors that make your environment toxic and how you respond, knowing that toxicity can stem from various reasons such as unreasonable demands, abusive behavior, lack of support, unethical behavior, and poor communication.

Set clear and realistic expectations

Identify what you can and cannot control, what you expect from yourself and others, and set realistic goals and boundaries. Make sure that these are communicated clearly to all parties. This also means being able to say no and learning to delegate.

Seek support and feedback

Seek support and advice from others who may teach you how to manage stress better. This could include trusted co-workers, mentors, family members and even professionals such as therapists and counselors, in order to better care for your mental health. 

Though it may seem scary, be open and ask for constructive feedback from your managers and peers, to get their side and point of view.

Cindy (not her real name) did just that when she was having difficulty with a superior who was overwhelming her with work. After an honest conversation, she realized that the superior was just not aware of the amount of work and demands she was already currently juggling, and that the bosses were not communicating among themselves. At the same time Cindy also became aware of the pressures her own superior was experiencing and how she could better align her work with the rest of the team. “Because of the conversation, he (the superior) became more considerate and mindful and realized that I wasn’t being dismissive or stubborn when I couldn’t take his work assignment, I just had too much on my plate,” she recalls.

Practice self-care and resilience

Practice self-care and resilience by taking time to care for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Engage in activities that make you happy such as exercise, socializing, and hobbies. Develop a positive mindset and consider your strengths and “wins,” while learning from experiences.

Know when to push and when to let go

Knowing when to persevere and when it’s time to go may be tricky, but experts say it’s best to trust your gut.

“It all depends on your threshold. Some people have a higher level of tolerance,” explains Dantes. “But if it’s causing you too much anguish mentally and emotionally, then it’s best to consider other options even at a lower salary. There’s nothing like peace of mind,” asserts Dantes.

Fortunately, experts say today’s youth have stronger boundaries and do not stand for a toxic work environment the way the older generations do. “It’s the Boomers and Gen-Xers who put up with toxic behavior. Millenials and Gen Zs push back,” she says.