A 35-year-old engineer working at Microsoft’s California campus was found dead at his workplace on August 20, sparking renewed calls for companies to protect their employees from the dangers of overwork.
Pratik Pandey, described by those close to him as a dedicated and positive individual, was found lifeless around 2 a.m. on the tech giant’s Mountain View campus. Community leader Satish Chandra revealed that an initial report from the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner suggested the cause of death was a heart attack. However, the official autopsy findings have not yet been released.
Friends and colleagues recalled that Pandey had been under intense stress, managing several projects at once. His uncle, Manoj Pandey, said the young engineer was reportedly working for long hours without breaks. “That will probably save a life,” the grieving uncle said, urging companies to take better care of employees’ mental and physical health. “It’s a lot of pain for the family when a loved one passes away.”
Authorities confirmed that no signs of foul play were found, and the incident is not being treated as a criminal case.
Originally from India, Pratik moved to the U.S. a decade ago to pursue a master’s degree at San Jose State University. He later built an impressive career with roles at Apple, Illumina, and Walmart Labs before joining Microsoft in 2020.
