Yesterday My LinkedIn Was Full of Unfortunate Posts: The Tragedy of a 26-Year-Old EY Employee and the Culture We All Built

Yesterday, my LinkedIn feed took a dark turn. Instead of the usual motivational posts, success stories, and business pitches, it was flooded with posts and trolls reacting to the tragic news of a 26-year-old EY employee’s untimely death. The shock, the sadness, the outpouring of emotion—it was all there. And yet, I couldn’t help but notice something else lurking between the lines: a sense of collective guilt.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still don’t know the full details of what happened. But what I do know is that we’ve all been here before, haven’t we? Whether it’s the death of a close one, a burnt-out colleague, or a friend who silently slipped away—we’ve seen this story play out, and unfortunately, it’s happening with increasing frequency.

So, here I am, staring at my LinkedIn feed, and I couldn’t help but think: Aren’t we all to blame?

The Missed Signs: We’ve All Been There

Let’s be real for a second. How many of us have missed the signs? You know, the subtle cues that someone isn’t doing okay? Maybe a colleague stopped making small talk during coffee breaks. Maybe your direct report’s emails went from full of exclamation marks to short, mechanical replies. Maybe that friend who always attended meetings with a smile suddenly looked like they had been awake for three days straight—and yet, we did nothing. ??

And when I say "we," I mean all of us—you, me, the entire workforce ecosystem. We’ve seen the signs, and yet we’ve turned a blind eye. Why? Because, like everyone else, we had a million things on our to-do list that seemed more urgent than asking, “Hey, are you okay?”

Or maybe we noticed the signs but said to ourselves, “It’s not my place,” or “They’ll figure it out,” or the classic, “I’ve got enough on my plate, I can’t deal with this.” The truth is, we all get busy. Deadlines loom, targets call, and that soul-crushing presentation keeps creeping up like a deadline on an overdue library book.

But here’s the thing—ignoring the signs doesn't make them disappear.

Are We the Architects of This Culture?

The real kicker in all of this? We built this culture. Every one of us. Sure, maybe we weren’t the ones who laid the foundation, but brick by brick, we’ve reinforced a system that prioritizes results over well-being, performance over people, and KPIs over mental health.

And now, when it’s time to reap what we’ve sown, we find ourselves clutching LinkedIn posts, wondering, “How did it come to this?”

Think about it. How many of us have glorified the grind? We wear late nights and weekend work like badges of honor. The words “hustle” and “grind” have become part of our everyday lexicon. We encourage overwork as a sign of dedication, and the person who leaves the office on time? Well, they clearly don’t care about their career, right?

But here’s where it gets tricky—while we’re all for personal growth and ambition, we’ve also collectively fostered a work culture that doesn’t just push the boundaries but erases them entirely.

The Uncomfortable Truth: We're All Part of This

Who am I to talk? After all, I’m part of this culture too. I’ve been that person grinding late into the night, answering emails at ungodly hours, and silently competing in the corporate marathon that never seems to end. I’ve probably ignored signs that I shouldn’t have. Maybe I’ve even contributed to the pressure cooker that bursts for so many of us. ??

I’ve sat in meetings where someone casually mentioned working a 70-hour week, and instead of raising my eyebrows, I nodded along, thinking, “That’s what it takes.” I’ve applauded the person who pushed through burnout, hitting targets while running on empty. And here I am now, scrolling through LinkedIn, reading about a 26-year-old’s death, realizing that maybe I’ve played a part in this damaging narrative.

The Conclusion: What Do We Do Now?

So here we are. We’ve built the culture. We’ve missed the signs. And now we’re watching as the consequences unfold—some of them as tragic as a young life lost.

What do we do now? Well, acknowledging that we’re all part of this system is a start. Recognizing that we’ve contributed—even if unintentionally—is essential. But most importantly, we need to start dismantling the toxic parts of this culture piece by piece, brick by brick. ??

We need to stop glorifying overwork. We need to start caring for the people we work with, not just as employees or colleagues but as humans who, like all of us, are navigating their own battles.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all responsible. And while I wish I could say I’m standing here with the solution in hand, the truth is, I’m still part of the problem too.

But admitting that? That’s the first step. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to figure out how to build something better—starting with the next conversation I have.

And you? Well, maybe the next time you see the signs, you won’t walk by.

The Final Word: We Are All in This Together

Who am I to talk about this, really? I’m as much a product of this relentless work culture as anyone else. I’m no savior swooping in to fix it all. But maybe—just maybe—if we start paying attention to the signs, checking in on each other, and prioritizing human connection over performance metrics, we can start to rebuild a culture that doesn’t end in tragedy.

So let’s begin. Together.