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PARIS — Paris prosecutors need France Telecom, the previous monopoly now often known as Orange, and its former boss Didier Lombard to go on trial for psychological harassment in reference to a wave of workers suicides in 2008-2009, sources mentioned on Thursday.
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Lombard was head of the agency when greater than 30 staff dedicated suicide throughout that interval, a decade after privatization. Unions mentioned compelled relocations and not possible efficiency targets had been behind the deaths.
Two sources near the investigation and a judicial supply mentioned the Paris prosecutor had beneficial magistrates ship Lombard and the agency to trial to face accusations of psychological harassment.
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They mentioned six different executives, three of them nonetheless with Orange, ought to face both the identical harassment cost or lesser expenses together with aiding harassment.
A decide will now resolve whether or not to observe the prosecutor’s recommendation or dismiss the case.
The judicial supply mentioned the executives had been suspected of making a “local weather of utmost stress” with the goal of creating staff need to go away, constituting a “harmful degradation of working situations.”
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Lombard’s lawyer declined to remark. An Orange spokesman mentioned the corporate had been notified of the prosecutor’s advice, however declined to touch upon the case.
Lombard, who has denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation, stepped down as CEO of Orange in early 2010 amid criticism of his dealing with of the disaster. If convicted, he might be sentenced to as much as one 12 months in jail and a 15,000 euro ($21,600) positive.
Frederic Benoist, a lawyer for one of many unions concerned within the case, mentioned he regretted that the prosecutor had not gone additional by in search of to convey manslaughter expenses.
In February 2010, authorities inspectors mentioned France Telecom had ignored warnings from medical doctors in regards to the psychological well being of some staff.
Authorities inspectors say France Telecom ignored warnings from medical doctors in regards to the psychological well being of some staff
The report, seen by Reuters, concluded {that a} restructuring plan that sought to cut back headcount by 22,000 out of a complete workforce of greater than 100,000 and reassign 10,000 others had had a “pathological impact” on workers morale.
France Telecom countered that the speed of suicides was no larger than within the common inhabitants.
After he stepped down, Lombard, who was succeeded by Stephane Richard, mentioned he regretted not taking measures earlier to spice up morale.
