Is Modern Day Slavery Killing Us?

In the name of success and progress, we are witnessing a silent epidemic—modern-day slavery in the corporate world. The tragic death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young chartered accountant at Ernst & Young (EY), is the latest, horrifying reminder of this growing issue. While we may no longer have chains or whips, the weight of overwork, exhaustion, and toxic corporate culture is suffocating people in the name of productivity. The question begs to be asked—**is modern-day slavery killing us?**

Anna's untimely death is not an isolated case but a symptom of a much larger crisis: a glorification of workaholism that devalues humanity in favor of relentless performance. Her mother’s open letter to EY Chairman Rajiv Memani was a scathing indictment of a corporate machine that chews up its employees and spits them out. For too long, the world of work has fostered a culture where empathy is a liability, boundaries are frowned upon, and burnout is applauded as dedication.

How did we get here? How did the corporate world—supposedly filled with enlightened leaders and progressive HR departments—become a new breeding ground for exploitation?

The Deification of Overwork

Workaholism has become the new gold standard for success. Staying late, sending emails at midnight, working through weekends—these behaviors are praised, while those who leave on time or value their personal lives are viewed as weak or uncommitted. We’ve blurred the line between commitment and cruelty, and the consequences are catastrophic.

Anna’s death should never have happened. But for every Anna, there are countless others enduring silent suffering, crushed by impossible expectations. Under the guise of ‘preparing for the real world,’ fresh hires are burdened with workloads that break them. Managers, themselves under immense pressure, perpetuate this vicious cycle, driving their teams into a state of constant exhaustion. This isn’t management—it’s modern-day hazing, cleverly disguised as professional development.

We have outlawed hazing in schools and universities, but in the corporate arena, it thrives in subtler and more insidious forms. Rites of passage have been replaced by emotional abuse. Fresh hires are isolated, overwhelmed, and left to navigate a minefield of unrealistic expectations without support. They are pushed to their breaking points, while the people who should be mentoring them stand by, watching the suffering unfold.

Where is Leadership?

True leadership fosters growth, not fear. The role of a manager is not to break the spirit of their employees but to guide, nurture, and develop talent. Sadly, in too many companies, hard-driving, ruthless managers are celebrated, while those who prioritize humanity are dismissed as weak. This is not leadership—it’s bullying with a salary.

This isn't just an issue of rogue managers; it's a leadership crisis at the highest levels. Rajiv Memani’s silence in the face of Anna’s death speaks volumes. Instead of leading a movement for change, he has retreated into the shadows, avoiding responsibility and ignoring the outcry. This is the kind of leadership we now see from ‘great employers’—silence, avoidance, and arrogance.

The Complicity of HR

What about Human Resources, the supposed gatekeepers of workplace welfare? Too often, HR departments are silent accomplices, conveniently ‘unaware’ of the toxic cultures festering under their noses. HR should be the first line of defense, auditing workplace practices and addressing problems before they escalate. Instead, they wait for formal complaints as if that will exonerate them from their duty.

HR’s role was originally designed to protect workers’ welfare, yet today, it is often complicit in neglecting employees. The profession has strayed from its mission, becoming too cozy with business goals while ignoring the human toll.

The Culture of Burnout

The truth is simple: exhaustion should not be celebrated. Burnout is not a badge of honor, and overwork is not a measure of strength. We need to stop glorifying those who stay late and praise those who know the value of rest, balance, and boundaries. These are the true high-performers—the people who can sustain themselves without sacrificing their health, happiness, or humanity.

Unless companies confront the toxic environments they’ve created, more tragedies like Anna’s death will follow. Ambitious young men and women will continue to be chewed up by a system that rewards burnout and ignores the human cost.

The Way Forward

At its core, modern-day slavery in the workplace is about control—control of employees' time, health, and lives. This must end. A successful business is not built on the bodies of overworked employees; it’s built on respect, empathy, and the understanding that life exists beyond the workplace.

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s death cannot be in vain. It should be a wake-up call to leaders, HR departments, and employees everywhere. It’s time to dismantle this culture of exploitation before more lives are lost.

Is modern-day slavery killing us? The answer is yes, but we still have a chance to change that—if we dare to confront the toxic cultures that have taken root in our workplaces. Let us not wait for the next tragedy. Let us act now.