France Telecom hires HR advisers to stop suicides

France Telecom will hire 100 new HR advisers and work with unions to tackle workplace stress, following 24 staff suicides in 18 months.

The suicides at the French telecommunications company were sparked following a restructuring programme, and the chief executive Didier Lombard now faces calls to resign.

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Lombard was booed by staff when he visited the site in Alby-sur-Chéran to announce the end of compulsory job changes for managers. Staff performance indicators at the call centre have also been suspended.

Benoît Hamon, spokesman for the opposition Socialist Party in France, told The Times: “Resignation is the only solution. In this sort of case, you assume your responsibilities and you go.”