Microsoft Engineer Dies at Work Family Warns of Overwork Risks

Pratik Pandey, a 35-year-old Microsoft engineer, died of a heart attack at the company's Mountain View campus after working late into the night, highlighting concerns over the tech industry's culture of overwork. Pandey, originally from India and a graduate of San Jose State University, had previously worked at Apple, Illumina, and Walmart Labs before joining Microsoft in 2020, where he contributed to the Fabric data analytics platform. His family, particularly his uncle Manoj Pandey, is urging tech companies to recognize the dangers of excessive work hours and to implement measures to manage employee stress and anxiety, emphasizing that such actions could save lives. Community leader Satish Chandra confirmed that Pandey had been under significant stress, juggling multiple projects, despite having no known health problems. Police investigations found no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and it is not being treated as a criminal case. The tragedy has sparked a broader call within Silicon Valley to re-evaluate work culture and prioritize employee well-being.