Image copyright AFP
Didier Lombard denies his reforms led workers to take their very own lives
The former chief govt of France Telecom and 6 different managers are to face trial over a spate of suicides amongst their workers within the late 2000s.
Prosecutors have lengthy claimed they presided over a tradition of harassment on the agency that led not less than 19 staff to kill themselves.
They are accused of "moral harassment".
Ex-boss Didier Lombard and his fellow defendants deny their powerful restructuring measures in 2006 have been guilty for the next lack of life.
The push for better effectivity got here two years after the corporate was privatised. Mr Lombard was making an attempt to chop 22,000 jobs and retrain not less than 10,000 employees.
"I'll get them out one way or another, through the window or through the door," he was quoted as telling senior managers in 2007.
Some have been transferred away from their households or left behind when workplaces have been moved, or assigned demeaning jobs.
From 2008 onwards, not less than 19 members of workers took their very own lives, 12 tried suicide and eight others suffered from melancholy and associated sicknesses.
Among the instances documented:
- In 2009, a girl aged 32 took her personal life at work in Paris
- A lady tried to kill herself within the japanese metropolis of Metz on studying that she was about to be transferred for the third time in a yr
- A person was discovered lifeless at residence, after apparently writing a letter blaming his job
- In 2011 a employee aged 57 tried to kill himself as he arrived at work close to Bordeaux
Mr Lombard has accepted the restructuring upset staff however rejected the concept that it led to folks taking their very own lives.
France Telecom grew to become Orange in 2013.
"As it has always said, Orange rejects the accusations and will make its case during the public hearing which will be scheduled in the coming months," an Orange spokesman mentioned in response to information of the trial.
If discovered responsible the defendants may face two years in jail and 30,000 euros ($35,000) in fines.