BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Relatives of a man who died at Microsoft’s office in Mountain View are calling on tech companies to stop pressuring their employees to overwork themselves.
Pratik Pandey, 35, of Menlo Park, was found face down around 2 a.m. on Aug. 20 at 1045 La Avenida Ave.
Pandey had told his roommate and colleagues that he was under a lot of stress, juggling multiple projects at the same time, community leader Satish Chandra said in an interview Thursday.
The initial assessment by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner indicated that Pandey suffered a heart attack, and he didn’t have any known health issues leading up to his death, Chandra said.
Pandey’s uncle, Manoj Pandey, said Pandey was a very jubilant, hard-work-ing and successful young man.
His colleagues and classmates said he was always helpful, and he liked playing soccer, ping pong and cricket.
“Overall, a very positive person,” his uncle said.
Pandey was born in Indore, India, and immigrated to the United States a decade ago to get a master’s degree from San Jose State University.
Pandey worked as a software engineer at Apple, Illumina and Walmart Labs before landing at Microsoft in July 2020.
On the night of his death, Pandey scanned his badge to get into the office at 7:50 p.m., and he was found in the courtyard about six hours later, his uncle said.
Pandey’s roommates and friends relayed that he continuously worked late nights for a “very extended period of time,” his uncle said.
Pandey’s uncle said tech companies should notice when employees are coming in late at night and do something to relieve their pressure and anxiety.
“That will probably save a life,” he said.
Friends and family hosted a viewing for Pandey today (Friday, Aug. 29) in Fremont before sending his remains to India, where his parents and two sisters live. The viewing of the remains is important for their Hindu culture, his uncle said.
“It’s a lot of pain for the family when a loved one passes away,” he said.
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