Ernst and Young, one of the Big 4 Accounting firms, 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 review was announced after the tragic death of EY worker Aishwarya Venkatachalam, who fell to her death from the 11th floor of the company’s Sydney office last year.
The incident sparked outrage against EY’s intense work culture as her family and friends claimed that she had been bullied and racially insulted while working there.
During the organisation of the review, a series of emails were published online that revealed the firm had mistakenly leaked the email addresses of staff.
EY followed up with an email apologising to staff that their addresses had been leaked by accident, after desperately trying to recall the email with the leaked addresses multiple times in the space of 18 minutes.
Employees were then asked to wipe the email if the recall didn’t work. In an ironic twist, EY then asked workers to respect its privacy and immediately reach out to its media relations team if any journalists got in touch.
Ernst and Young appointed former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to conduct the review, which would look at the firm’s culture, work practices and psychological health and safety in an ‘independent and rigorous’ manner.
However, some staff have criticized the move, saying that they don’t understand why EY leadership needs to consult outside experts to tell them how to run a decent workplace.
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.
The leaked email addresses, which contained personal details of current and former employees, were mistakenly shared by EY during its effort to review its workplace culture.
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