Suicide Attributed to Work Stress: Now It's Saurabh Kumar Ladhha at McKinsey, Before that (allegedly) Gabe MacConaill at Sidley Austin

 "Saurabh Kumar Ladhha, a 25-year-old consultant at McKinsey & Company’s Mumbai office, jumped off his 9th floor in Matunga, on February 23, 2024. The police remarked that he died by suicide due to work pressure." 

That's the take on the death of this ambitious Gen Zer in Mashable. No oddball, he was well-liked by his colleagues. 

Responses to this tragedy vilify the glorification of working 14 to 16 hours a day. That, it is noted, begins in graduate business schools. 

The popularity of such an ethos can make those of us earning a living in the normal way (50 hours a week) feel like perhaps we should apologize for not grinding. Hey, I treasure those hours walking my four-legged child and watching her play in the dog park. 

Here in the US we experienced the suicide of equity partner at law firm Sidley Austin Gabe MacConaill. In addition to a complex Mattress Firm bankruptcy that he was handling there were administrative duties at the firm. 

According to the chatter, he requested help from Sidley but that didn't happen. His death might have been triggered from the pile-on of work stress. With law firms such as Cravath and Paul, Weiss creating nonequity partner tiers there might be fewer administrative responsibilities for senior lawyers. But maybe not. 

In this time in the history of labor when there are fewer plum knowledge worker jobs there is no shortage of those chasing them. That is despite their reputation for horrific requirements of time and the getting-higher-all-the-time bar for evaluation of performance. Therefore, it's not inappropriate to speculate if ambition could be classified as a fatal disease. 

More and more of my coaching clients are opting out of being an employee. They are building multiple micro businesses so that they can earn their living on their own terms. They have had it with complying with what they experience as their employers' unreasonable demands without any guarantee of job security. Pull off the miracle and you could still be "counseled out."

2024. Unpack your limiting beliefs, finally leave the past behind, pick up on the opportunity in this crazy era.  Jane Genova provides you with intuitive career coaching, Tarot readings and related communications. Complimentary confidential consultation. (For appointment text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)