A young woman found dead at the Sydney offices of Ernst & Young Australia had been working for the company for approximately six months, Margin Call has established.
The 33-year-old, understood to be a foreign national, was discovered fatally injured by passers-by after midnight on Saturday, hours after the woman had returned to the office from a workplace social event at bar precinct The Ivy.
Margin Call understands the woman’s husband was on a flight to Sydney from Singapore at the time of the incident. He was informed of the death upon his arrival at Sydney Airport.
Police are continuing to examine the matter and have already determined that the woman accessed a secure patio on the upper levels of the building using her security swipe card.
Early inquiries have been unable to determine precisely what activities, if any, she undertook inside the building in the hours after she returned.
The investigation has not determined any obvious motivating factors. Interviews with staff at The Ivy and employees from EY’s offices are said to be continuing.
The 33-year-old had returned from The Ivy — a bustling Sydney CBD bar — to her workplace, at accounting and consulting major EY’s headquarters in George Street, about 7.30pm on Friday evening and continued to work late into the night.
Police responded to an incident at the office in the early hours of Saturday morning, they said, and were now preparing a report for the coroner.
EY, one of the country’s largest professional services companies, has launched a comprehensive review into workplace social activities and the security surrounding them after the death on Friday.
Margin Call has established the woman had been at the nightclub for a workplace event run by the company’s Sydney social committee, from about 5.30pm on Friday.
She was allegedly escorted from the venue by staff owing to her alcohol consumption. However security footage viewed by police of her return to the EY office did not suggest a noticeable level of intoxication.
The role alcohol played in her death remains an ongoing line of inquiry in the investigation, given that several hours elapsed after the staff member’s last drink and the time when police were notified of her death.
Officers suspect the death was a result of self harm.
David Larocca, EY’s chief executive, said he had been greatly saddened and shocked by the death. “We are assisting the police with their ongoing investigation, which has confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances,” he said. He added that support and contact had been made with the woman’s family.
In addition to counselling being offered, Mr Larocca said the company would undertake a “comprehensive and wide-ranging internal review encompassing health and safety, security, social events”. “Our chief mental health officer will be part of an ongoing review and has been instrumental over the weekend in providing ongoing advice and guidance,” Mr Larocca said in a statement on Monday.
EY’s social committee is a workplace networking group that promotes bonding and rapport-building among employees.
The global consulting and accounting giant has previously been scrutinised for the long hours forced on staff. Internal emails last year from senior managers at EY’s Hong Kong office show employees were urged to work until 11.30pm on weekdays and through the weekend during busy periods. Many large companies in Australia are preparing for audits.
“For weekends, I expect … at least one day we are spending the whole day (from 10.00am-7.30pm) in office,” an email from a Hong Kong manager read. “I think midnight is common in peak seasons – it counts on the discipline and responsibility of yourself.”
An internal review last year found significant problems within the firm’s marketing team including concerns about a “nice” workplace culture that was felt to be “conflict avoidant”. Leaders were overworking their staff and were “overly demanding”, it found.
Another firm, PwC, disclosed last week that nine people had left its business in 12 months as a result of 31 bullying, sexual harassment and other misconduct complaints.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)
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