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Should You Attend a Colleague's Funeral? EY CA Death Sparks Debate

Pradeep

Pradeep Pramanik  |251 Answers  |Ask -

Career And Placement Consultant - Answered on Sep 19, 2024

Pradeep Pramanik is a career coach, placement consultant and director at Fast Track Career Consultants, which provides career counselling, soft skills training and placement consultancy services.
Pradeep, who hails from Bhagalpur in Bihar, has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years in sales, marketing, training and product management roles in companies like Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Elder Pharmaceuticals and Ranbaxy Laboratories.
During his tenure in the pharma industry, he has worked in different states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
In 1998, he launched Fast Track Career Consultants with the aim of helping youngsters find jobs through the right career counselling, training and placement services.
They also offer HR analysis and appraisal services.
Over the years, he has been invited by management and engineering institutions to discuss education and employment policies, entrepreneurship, soft skills and emerging careers in India.
He has published four books on career counselling and contributed articles to print publications.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Sep 19, 2024Hindi
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Dear Mr Pradeep, how does one deal with workplace burnout? A young CA working for EY recently succumbed due to work pressure and no one from the office attended her funeral. Is this normal? What are your thoughts? What should one do in a situation like this? What is your advice to young professionals

Ans: Dear ,

You have raised a valid point which most of the young professionals are passing through.
What a paradox in Indian context ?
At one hand,. public sector companies do have quite liberal working conditions and virtually no direct accountability to push your stress level to that high of opting for ending life., whereas in most private or proprietorship companies , right from reaching office in time to achieving the set objectives days after days , months after months which keep on increasing.

There is limit of tolerance of abusive behaviur or working styles , hence many find ways to move to other comanpies, some quit the job , some move out to other industries .

There are many companies or companies from different sectors , why only talk about EY , I can give true exampples of BFSI /NBFCs/Telecom/ Industrial products companies / Real Estate cos/ FMCG/FMCD/Pharma cos where many professionals avoid to opt for even when they are offered high packages.
Reason, - High work pressure , abusive work conditions , Job Uncertainity , worst approach of top management where you are treated like slavesif you fail to achieve your assigned tasks or objectives which is also called target..
However taking own life as this CA at EY did was really heartwrenching . Moreso the approach of the management .
After all a young talented girl . lost her life due to work pressure as mentiioned in her notes. To be honest , no one attending funeral from management side is not normal .

In most cases some one from management side representsor send their condolences .

There are good companies who even clear the dues and add ex gratia amount from their side so that family doesn't suffer financially . I have seen some companies offering job to another member of the family too. .

May be, in this case , due to legal complications, Sr managers avoided attending the funeral .

As far as my advice to young professionals is concerned - Be bold , take challenges as part of your life and when you feel . it is crossing your limits , You must expose the truth to top management as many a times , putting so much pressure on young professionals are the handiworks of Line managers or HR managers , which top management might not be aware about .

She being a CA should not have any issues in finding another good paying job or even joining any CA firm as Sr manager taxation or in auditing could have not difficult. She should have fought back.

You must have seen many Army /Police /CISF or Bank professionals commit suicide under work pressure which is really painful . One should fight back or find better options available than ending own life. Remember Tough times never last but tough people do. Thanks
Career

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Dear Mayank,My name is Dinesh Kumar, age 38.I am working as an EHS coordinator (in the environment health and safety department) in a corporate office in Noida since the last 15 years.But since the last three years, management has given extra work of the quality dept.I am coordinating with approx 300 site safety and quality engineers (admin role), managing the safety store at the Noida office (safety uniform, personal protective equipment, safety promotional material, etc), managing the upkeep of documentation part of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, distribution of safety uniform kit to sites approx 600 persons, MIS of safety reports, etc.I am feeling overloaded and stressed and not interested in my job.I am giving 100 per cent in my job but work not completed always.Please advise me on how I can control my stress at the workplace and find a new job.Dinesh Kumar
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Dear Dinesh,

I understand you are overloaded, like many people in the corporate world.

The first step to streamline your work is to clearly list down the tasks that you do and how much time it takes.

Then sit with your manager and explain to him the support you want from the management in terms of resources like manpower, online system, etc.

You are a valuable resource and if you can systematically explain the situation, then I am sure you will be heard and allocated resources to optimally carry out the critical tasks related to ESH of your organisation.

Many of the ESH activities are legal requirements, so the company will definitely support you.

 

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Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 27, 2020

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I saw your helpline and thought of asking for help. I m a sales guy aged 50 and recently joined a company. It is neither a MNC nor a middle sized organisation. Considering the fact that this is new organisation i need to prove my worth. There is tremendous pressure to perform. There is absolutely no support from the company people to send quotations etc which they take their sweet time and they give reasons like Covid -19 etc for the delay and they do not expect us to give reasons for failure. If u look at it from my perspective , I have joined in the month of Feb 2020 wherein March-April and may were locked down months. Just now the business has started signs to improve. Instead of supporting the team they keep on finding little faults which does not motivate but de-motivates me. A colleague before me has already been sacked after 5 months and I am not sure when my turn will come. I feel it may be next month too. I have not tried to reason out with them or they may say I am trying to give reasons for my failure. On top of that I have been reporting to 4 bosses who just write to me as per their whims and fancies. Plz let me know what best I can do to survive this time frame. I am just keeping mum bcoz there are no jobs available in the market and I am doing my best, In fact as this is an automotive industry it takes time to materialise and everywhere is there is a slowdown in business. I would not like to give reasons but still it becomes difficult to survive. Plz advice and help.
Ans: Dear SK, I can only imagine the agony that you are going through and I have been coaching many people on this since the time the lockdown began.

None of us knew what the Pandemic would mean and what it would do to our businesses or work or home. It has managed to create new situations that we have no idea of how to handle.

This has caused a lot of anxiety and strain and we have perhaps begun to imagine the worst.

But what if I tell you that the situation is changing and so will the situation at your office?

Will you be inclined to believe that?

Even the top management is behaving in a wayward manner as this is all new to them; especially working from home for many and not much facetime which I guess as a Sales guy you are used to.

Since the response from the markets are not so good, it is bound to show up as a poor performance on your record, this is a valid concern…but to go into work, everyday keeping this in mind may not be effective even with the smallest of tasks as the anxiety keeps you on the edge not doing much but worrying to save your job.

Also, what happened to your colleague may not happen to you. So why focus all your energies on something that may not happen?

Instead, simply focus on ‘realistic’ targets that are achievable at this time.

Also, since you have joined only early this year, I do feel, it is imperative for you to know really your hierarchy and reporting structure. If there are conflicts at the top and you are bearing the brunt, either you need to roll up your sleeves and ace the politics that possibly others are facing too or simply do what you can.

Step back and observe what is going on and for this, you need to be a little calm to understand the WHY of 4 bosses!

It may all but be an imagined stress and it might just need a bit of a tweak to be in a better rapport with each of them.

Sometimes, what is little, becomes big in the mind as it is cluttered with a lot of if and buts with either lack of information or simply creating stories out of apprehensions and fears.

Please take care of your health and this helps keeping the mind in a better space to deal with what is going on.

Ultimately, tell yourself: “NOTHING IS WORTH STRESSING OVER SO MUCH. Everything falls into place, once I take charge!”

Take charge and take care of your health. Best wishes.

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Dr Ashish

Dr Ashish Sehgal  | Answer  |Ask -

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I am 42 years old and working round the clock in my current job. Its a tough life. Company is not giving me options to learn skill nor doing anything to reduce my pressure. Due to covid, finding a new job is very difficult in my field. Due to constant pressure i have lost interest in work and dont want to work. There is a burnout.its tough situation to handle. Need ur help/ advice in this situation.
Ans: It sounds like you are experiencing burnout from your job, which can be a serious issue if left unaddressed. Here are some steps you can take to help manage your situation:

Take a break: If possible, take some time off work to recharge and focus on self-care. Even a short break can help you feel refreshed and more motivated to tackle your job responsibilities.

Set boundaries: It's important to establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life. Try to limit working outside of regular hours and avoid checking emails or taking work calls during your free time.

Seek support: Talk to a trusted friend or family member about your situation. Sometimes just having someone to listen and offer support can make a big difference.

Find ways to cope with stress: Consider incorporating stress-reducing activities into your daily routine, such as meditation, exercise, or spending time in nature.

Explore career options: While finding a new job may be difficult in your field right now, it's important to consider your long-term career goals and explore other options that may be available to you.

Consider seeking professional help: If you continue to struggle with burnout, it may be helpful to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor who can offer additional support and guidance.

Remember, burnout is a serious issue that can have negative effects on your mental and physical health. It's important to take steps to address it and prioritize your well-being.

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |9752 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 31, 2025

Career
Sir my rank is 16894 OC category no EWS .I got kmec CSM in second phase in tg eapcet. I am going for 3rd phase. So could you please guide me whether vidya jyoti institute of technology cse is better or kmec. In 3rd phase can I get Iare , cmrk , cvr , mgit , vjit , snist , anurag only cse and specializations . Are there any chances to get any of these colleges in 3rd phase ? Please guide me sir.
Ans: Dhaksh, With an OC category rank of 16,894 in TG EAPCET, you have secured Computer Science and Business Systems (CSM) at Keshav Memorial Engineering College (KMEC) in phase 2, and are now considering options for phase 3, including CSE at Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology (VJIT), as well as aspirational seats at IARE, CMRK, CVR, MGIT, VJIT, SNIST, and Anurag (all CSE and related specializations). Based on the official 2024 TG EAPCET closing ranks and highly regarded educational portals, your current rank is well outside the typical closing ranks for OC candidates in CSE at top-tier colleges: CVR (3,200–4,200), MGIT (3,412–3,417), IARE (well under 1,000), SNIST and Anurag (typically under 8,000 for CSE), and CMRK (usually closes by 17,000). VJIT’s CSE (core) closed at 22,455 and AI-ML/Data Science specializations closed between 20,423–21,363, making VJIT’s CSE the only program among your choices where your rank sits comfortably within range for both core and allied branches in phase 3. KMEC’s CSM course typically has closing ranks around 17,263–18,648 for OC, which fits your present allocation and gives the campus a competitive, yet supportive environment, with strong faculty, modern infrastructure, transparent placement processes, and good industry connections. Both KMEC and VJIT have consistently placed 70–90% of eligible students in reputable IT and core companies, with experienced faculty and ample campus facilities, though VJIT is consistently rated higher for core CSE in terms of peer crowd, coding culture, alumni base, research opportunities, and recruiter interest.

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Asked by Anonymous - Jul 31, 2025Hindi
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Hii mam i have done my registered marriage in April 2024 without knowing of my parents and now i m living in my mother's House without telling that i m married ? Now how can i convince my parents. I have told my parents about him but don't even want to talk to him or his parents.. how can i convince my parents?
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand that you are in a sensitive situation. Patience and empathy is extremely important if you want to convince your parents. Understand their side; what are they objecting and why. Once you get that, it will be easier to debunk any misunderstandings they have about your relationship. Have calm one-on-one conversation with each parent instead of talking to both of them at once. Your first task is to make them listen, not immediately approve. Acknowledge any mistake they bring up; it is indeed unfair to not include your parents in your marriage decision, at least, in India. Though I am sure you had your reasons and I am not judging at all. But you need to acknowledge that it was not right of you to do that. This makes you come off more responsible, mature and sincere. Ask them gently what they do not like about your partner and once you understand it, show them his positive side.

Do not threaten, or give ultimatum. Don’t use dialogues like my life my decision if you want them to ever approve of this relationship. Be patient and give them time to come to terms with it.

Lastly, if you, even once feel that some of their objections are valid and you never saw it that way, please take things slow. We do miss a lot when we are in love. I am sure that’s not the case with you, but just in case, please do not hesitate to rethink.

Best Wishes.

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