EY employee death highlights workplace stress: How to protect your health amid job pressure

The glorification of ‘hustle culture’ is causing serious mental and physical health issues for corporate employees, such as anxiety, depression and heart problems. The recent death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant at Ernst & Young in Pune has kicked up a social media storm about the impact of toxic work culture on health. The girl’s mother wrote to the company’s India head, stating that her daughter died just four months after joining the job due to the “workload, new environment and long hours”. Her story is a stark reminder to prioritise health over work pressure. (Also read: Is work stress an epidemic? Psychologists are telling ways to deal with it ,

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Rajiv Passi, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, said, “Work-related stress is a significant psychosocial risk factor and is a growing concern in today’s fast-paced, competitive environment. It not only impacts mental health but also has serious consequences for physical health, especially cardiovascular disease. Understanding the link between stress and overall health is important for both individuals and organisations.”

how stress affects your health

“Chronic stress activates the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, which increases heart rate and raises blood pressure. Over time, these physiological changes can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, digestive problems, and weakened immune function. Stress can also promote unhealthy behaviors such as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption — major risk factors for overall health problems. Job stress and effort-reward imbalance are particularly linked to these problems. In a study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, high job stress was associated with increased serum cholesterol after 5 years, while effort-reward imbalance contributed to higher BMI after 10 years,” explains Dr. Passi.

Symptoms of Work-Related Stress

“Symptoms of work-related stress can include fatigue, anxiety and irritability. These not only impact productivity, but can also lead to long-term health problems. Studies show that individuals experiencing high levels of stress at work are at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. This relationship highlights the importance of actively addressing stress,” he said.

Stress management strategies

Dr. Pasi offered the following tips to reduce work-related stress and its impact on overall health:

• Exercise regularly: Physical activity is an effective way to manage stress and improve overall heart health.
• Practice meditation: Techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises can help calm the mind and reduce stress levels.
• Get support: Building a strong support network through friends, family, or coworkers can provide emotional relief.
• Make sleep a priority: Adequate rest is essential for both mental and physical health.
• Set boundaries: Learning to say ‘no’ and managing your workload can prevent burnout.