• The unfortunate demise of CA Anna compelled me to share insights about how professionals can cope with life in a new city. It has some suggestions for employers too and my story.

I was very sad to read about the death of a 26 year old fellow Chartered Accountant (CA) in Pune. May Anna Sebastian’s soul rest in peace! May Ishwar give her parents the strength to cope with the great loss? We all have to give up our bodies some day but this is no way to go.

After perusing numerous media reports here is what I found about late Anna. She had recently joined S R Batliboi and Company, an associate firm of Ernst and Young about four months ago in assurance and audit.

According to this report in Moneylife, “The workload, new environment, and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally and mentally. She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness and stress soon after joining. as she would often collapse on her bed after returning to her paying guest (PG) accommodation, sometimes without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with further requests for reports.”

Another report in TheWeek reads, “Anna had been “complaining of chest constriction” for a week. When her parents came to visit her in Pune, two weeks before her death, for her C.A. convocation, they took her to the cardiologist, who said it was due to the lack of proper sleep and eating late.

According to this report in Onmanorama she complained of chest constriction. Her ECG was normal. Later she had chest pain again and collapsed before she was taken to hospital. On her way to the hospital she suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

As I type this, the question haunting me is could the doctors have saved her? Cardiac arrest at 26!

Thus, I decided to delve deeper into this issue and ask some working women how they adjusted to their city of work. Format is views of five professionals followed by suggestions for employers. It ends with my story.

25 year old lawyer, from Indore, who works with a Big 4 firm in NCR

1. Support of friends - especially friends from smaller or 2nd tier cities. In my opinion, people from these cities are always sweeter and easier to be around.

2. ⁠Work environment- this can make or break the experience of moving to a new city.

3. ⁠Ease of access - Gurgaon largely had easy access to everything making it a good city to move to

4. There is a huge cultural difference between here and North Indians definitely. That was a problem that took some time and understanding to overcome.

26 year old CA, from Pune, who works with Big 4 in Mumbai

1. Mumbai moves at its own pace, and things rarely go according to plan so you need to have lot of patience. It makes you adapt to this city very quickly and remember, "jugaad" (resourcefulness) is the key to surviving (and thriving).

2. Flat hunting in Mumbai is one of biggest problems when it comes to settling down. So what helped was communities built on Facebook where you can easily find fully vacant as well as replacement options.

3. You need to have atleast one friend in Mumbai whom you can rely on and those who don’t know anyone can get along with office colleagues and social friends. Mumbai is very safe and you can easily make friends. 

4. Traveling by local train or Metro is preferred so if you find a house near station well and good. Public transport makes life easier here.

30 year old Management Graduate from Mumbai to Gurgaon

1. Actively spend time on the fact that you're moving and it's going to be a bumpy road for a while so you're comfortable with lonely days and unknowns. 

2. Get as many basics sorted as early as you can. Try to find accommodation even before moving or close as soon as possible. Spend the first weekend you can setting up, getting a cook, wifi etc. A sense of home will make you feel rooted and more at ease. 

3. If you have friends, great. Actively try to meet them and also their larger friend groups to meet new people in the city. Else, try a hobby workshop to meet new people with similar interests. Proactively try to socialise with colleagues at work - you may just find great friends. 

4. Find things in the city you love, explore it. As someone who loves food, the amazing Japanese and North Indian food on Zomato would give me pick me ups on low days. The open public parks, markets and the space to wander is something I would enjoy and occasionally indulge in. 

5. You've moved away but don't disappear. Lean on your old friends and family during the transition, everything is easier when you talk about it and have your tribe on your side.

39 year old CA from Delhi who shifted to Mumbai at age 22

1. Getting a support system in place in a new city (like cook / helper) to ensure not missing home food, care, etc.

2. Making new friends and finding time to connect with local relatives.

3. Regularly, meeting loved ones - like parents coming in once in six months or so. 

4. Language was not the barrier as between Delhi to Mumbai however for some people it might be relevant.

40 plus CA from Chennai, works in Bengaluru. Earlier worked in many cities

1. Build a network of friends in the new areas - people who we can talk to, find some weekend time with each other and opportunities to unwind. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is a family so I always had that support system.

2. However busy I was, always ensured I spoke to Mom once a day. Staying rooted with family is very important.

3. Asking for help - when we send children outside, we have to tell them - there is no taboo in seeking help, nothing wrong in quitting and restarting - taking breaks. We have to make our children confident to share their pain.

4. Levers had a Tutor and Mentor concept. Tutor was line manager who gave you work. Mentor is the one who you can talk to periodically - who anchors your learning objectives and helps in personality development. All this kept us anchored. Plus we had a lady coordinator who kept in touch with us all through the Business Leadership Trainee stint.

At Narayana Healthcare where she heads finance, for young CAs who join they ensure they are properly anchored with a senior mentor. She meets them every quarter where they are given an opportunity to voice their concerns, areas they need help etc.

How does HUL provide for lady Management Trainees and Lady Managers who travel?

A former colleague said that in Mumbai there are guest houses and a residential building in the Andheri Corporate Office. Similar facilities exist in other big cities like Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata. Also at remote locations, guest houses have security.

What can employers do to make employees from other towns comfortable? Besides what is shared above some thoughts – 

1. Have a List of Paying Guest options.

2. In each area, have a list of ladies who supply home-made food.

3. Every employee should have a Mentor and Buddy at work.

4. Buddy is a local person who knows the city and can give answers to commonly asked questions about the city.

5. Ensure that come what may, employees have their meals. I know of some law firms who have in-house kitchens.

6. Ensure employees take a break if the day is long. It could be through meditation, yoga, eye and hand exercises or going to the gym.

7. One cannot choose one’s boss. However, if one has a toxic boss or a sadist one who pushes his team to work long hours even when there is no need or because of personal reasons like his wife not wanting him back home early, such bosses need to be counseled or transferred.

8. All employees should go through a Mandatory Health Check-Up esp. blood and stress test.

My story

I studied in the 1980s in a very different world. Those days doing CA along with graduation was the in thing. So three days a week attended college (left at 7.30 am), went to office thereafter and returned home by about 6.30 pm. One hour of daily study was required. 

At Hindustan Levers, we worked atleast ten hours a day. Those days there were few computers, no internet and poor telephone infrastructure. As a Trainee, for about 12-15 days every year end we spent 12 hours plus at office. At times would leave at 3 am and back by 10 am. At one point I worked in three shifts in three different departments. No complaints because I learnt a lot.

Life was not easy as a Manager. As one of my bosses said, Sanjeev work till never end, you need to decide when to stop based on priority.

As a Business Consultant, I worked for over 12 hours during Merger and Acquisition deals.

Further, practicing CA’s have to read continuously to know changes in law. During tax season, i.e. when Income-tax returns are filed, most CA’s turn recluses. Life was never easy.  

A Fellow CA batch mate makes some points-People doing business work harder. Think of the Chaiwala who works from 6 am onwards. “I started my practice as a CA at age 23. 11am to 5pm was for Income-Tax department. Clients came in the mornings from 5-8 am. Add 2 hrs Mumbai travel.”

I called to speak to his 24 year old CA daughter who works with a Financial Services Company. Today is Friday, Priya has gone out with friends. When father asked Priya why she brought work home? She said Dad, ‘I can work at my pace. By taking on more work, I get to learn more in short time.’ 

The importance of a support system, good friends, exercise, eating well, health and the ability to take the ups and downs in life in your stride are important.

It is for corporates and employees to effect change. The government has enough on its plate. HR managers and senior management can help.

Pray for Anna’s soul.

Also read

1. How the Holy Gita taught me to enjoy life

2. Anna, we are sorry 19 minutes

3. Why do CA students not commit suicide like some Kota ones do