EY’s spectacular email fail amid workplace ‘culture’ review after worker tragically fell to her death from the accounting giant’s Sydney skyscraper
- Accounting firm EY accidentally leaks employee details
- The fault happened as a workplace review was organised
- ‘Culture’ review ordered after tragic suicide of EY worker
Accounting giant Ernst and Young has accidentally leaked the personal details of current and former employees while trying to launch a massive review into the firm’s workplace culture.
The Big 4 Accounting firm announced the independent review following the tragic death of EY worker Aishwarya Venkatachalam, 27, who fell to her death from the 11th floor of the company’s Sydney office in August last year.
The incident sparked a furious backlash against EY’s intense work culture as Ms Venkatachalam’s grieving friends and family claimed she had been bullied and racially insulted while working there.
While organising the review, a series of emails from EY were published online that revealed the firm had mistakenly leaked the email addresses of staff.
One screenshot from an employee showed EY desperately trying to recall the email with the leaked addresses multiple times in the space of 18 minutes.
Accounting firm EY accidentally leaked the personal email addresses of a number of current and former employees amidst an independent review into workplace culture
The independent review comes following the tragic death of employee Aishwarya Venkatachalam (right), 27, last year
‘This is not going well for EY,’ the employee who published screenshots of the emails wrote.
EY then followed up with another email apologising to staff that their addresses had been leaked by accident.
‘An email has been sent to you this afternoon regarding participation in the review being conducted by Elizabeth Broderick and Co, which inadvertently displayed your personal email address along with the personal email addresses of a number of previous employees at EY,’ it read.
‘We sincerely apologise for this error.’
Employees were then asked to wipe the email if the recall didn’t work.
‘We are attempting to recall this email, and ask you to delete it if the recall has not been successful,’ it wrote.
In an ironic privacy twist, given the email leaks, the firm then asked workers to respect EY’s privacy and immediately reach out to its media relations team if any journalists got in touch.
‘Now they told us to tell them if the media contacts us,’ the employee captioned the screenshot of the email.
‘Yeah we’ve got so much loyalty to EY will do that right away.’
EY followed up with another email that explained email addresses had been leaked before advising workers to contact the media relations team if they’re contacted by the media
Oceanic EY CEO David Larocca (pictured) announced the review
The review will be conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick (pictured), who will look at EY’s culture, work practices and psychological health and safety
Ernst and Young – which trades as EY – appointed former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to conduct the review.
Oceanic EY CEO David Larocca vowed last year that Ms Broderick would look at the firm’s culture, work practices and psychological health and safety in an ‘independent and rigorous’ review.
But the move was slammed by some staff.
‘I don’t understand why this EY leadership needs to consult outside experts to tell them how to run a decent workplace,’ one told Daily Mail Australia at the time.
EY also launched two additional internal reviews in the wake of Ms Venkatachalam’s death to tackle mental health and safety support within the organisation.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to EY for comment.
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