- Title: FRANCE: More worker suicides reported at France Telecom
- Date: 11th September 2010
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 10, 2010) (REUTERS) PAN ACROSS EXTERIORS OF FRANCE TELECOM HEADQUARTERS COMPANY LOGOS ON WALL MEN ENTERING HEADQUARTERS SEBASTIEN CROZIER, HEAD OF THE CONFEDERATION FRANCAISE DE L'ENCADREMENT-CONFEDERATION GENERALE DES CADRES (CFE-CGC) UNION AT FRANCE TELECOM WALKING PAST CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (French) SEBASTIEN CROZIER, HEAD OF CFE-CGC UNION AT FRANCE TELECOM, SAYING: "We are sad to note five suicides in 15 days at France Telecom. These are dramatic events that affect the entirety of the workforce." WINDOWS AT FRANCE TELECOM HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SEBASTIEN CROZIER, HEAD OF CFE-CGC UNION AT FRANCE TELECOM, SAYING: "The people who committed suicide left messages. The partners of these people have blamed the company. Enquiries are under way so that the origins of these dramatic acts can be known and identified." ENTRANCE GATE AT FRANCE TELECOM HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SEBASTIEN CROZIER, HEAD OF CFE-CGC UNION AT FRANCE TELECOM, SAYING: "Today, this year, the suicides that took place can probably find their origins in the difficult working conditions that existed before. The situation has greatly improved and the current management is doing what's necessary to restore the desire and taste for work but the previous executives have not been punished." VARIOUS EXTERIORS ORANGE SHOP, THE TRADING NAME FOR FRANCE TELECOM VARIOUS OF ORANGE AND FRANCE TELECOM LOGOS POSTED OUTSIDE SHOP CUSTOMER ENTERING SHOP SIGN INSIDE SHOP READING "MON MOBILE" / "MY MOBILE" FRANCE TELECOM PAY TELEPHONE
- Embargoed: 26th September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Communications,Health
- Reuters ID: LVAD85S914F7DU5DJL5RCLT2PX3U
- Story Text: A senior French union official says telecommunications group France Telecom has been hit by a fresh wave of suicides.
Five employees of France Telecom (FT) have committed suicide in the past 15 days, a union official said on Friday (September 10), rekindling memories of a spate of suicides that rocked the company last year.
"We are sad to note five suicides in 15 days at France Telecom. These are dramatic events that affect the entirety of the workforce," said Sebastian Crozier, head of the CFE-CGC (Confederation Francaise de l'Encadrement - Confederation Generale des Cadres) union at France Telecom.
The announcement is likely to renew scrutiny of the company which spent much of this year trying to overcome a suicide crisis among its workers.
"The people who committed suicide left messages. The partners of these people have blamed the company. Enquiries are under way so that the origins of these dramatic acts can be known and identified," Crozier said.
A union official said 23 FT employees had now killed themselves this year, compared with 19 in 2009. The rate this year is slightly ahead of the French average of 17 suicides per 100,000 people in 2006, according to World Health Organization figures.
The company has placed a renewed emphasis on worker happiness and based some of its managers' pay on so-called social criteria, such as the level of absenteeism and overall satisfaction of their employees.
"The suicides that took place can probably find their origins in the difficult working conditions that existed before. The situation has greatly improved and the current management is doing what's necessary to restore the desire and taste for work but the previous executives have not been punished," Crozier said.
Suicides at France Telecom, which is 27 percent-owned by the French state, have made headlines around the world this year and raised concern among politicians. The company has 181,000 employees, with 100,000 in France.
The announcement of more suicides comes at a time of tense relations between the government and trades unions, which are organising large-scale protests against plans to increase the retirement age.
A France Telecom spokesperson confirmed the deaths, which were not in the workplace, but declined be interviewed or offer further details. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None