What led to the unprecedented moral harassment charges against France Telecom executives?

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Unprecedented Moral Harassment Charges Stem from Workplace Culture Linked to Employee Suicides

Former executives at France Telecom, now known as Orange, are facing unprecedented charges of moral harassment, allegedly linked to a workplace environment that contributed to 35 employee suicides between 2008 and 2009. The company and its former leaders are accused of implementing an institutionalised harassment strategy designed to degrade working conditions and pressure employees to resign. This landmark trial, which opened nearly seven years after the initial charges were filed, scrutinises a period of intense restructuring and alleged management practices that created a climate of anxiety.
Allegations of Institutionalised Harassment and "Management by Terror"

Prosecutors contend that France Telecom, under the leadership of former chief executive Didier Lombard from 2005 to 2010, introduced a deliberate policy to unsettle employees, thereby encouraging them to leave. The investigation focused on 39 employees, revealing that 19 died by suicide, 12 attempted it, and eight suffered severe depression or were forced onto sick leave. A technician's suicide note in July 2008 explicitly accused bosses of "management by terror," and a female employee jumped from her office window two months later, highlighting the extreme distress experienced by some staff.
Remarks and Corporate Policies Under Scrutiny

Didier Lombard himself made controversial statements, including admitting to a "suicide fad" comment and, in 2006, stating his intention to make employees leave "one way or another, either through the window or the door." Investigating magistrates cited these remarks as evidence of a corporate policy aimed at undermining employees by fostering an anxious professional environment. The company, however, maintains that while acknowledging employee suffering, it disputes the existence of a deliberate policy to destabilise its workforce.
Potential Consequences for Individuals and the Company

The trial involves former chief executive Didier Lombard, alongside former number two Louis-Pierre Wenes and ex-head of human resources Olivier Barberot, with four others facing charges of complicity. If convicted, individuals could receive a one-year prison sentence and a €15,000 fine. Orange itself faces a potential €75,000 sanction if found guilty. This case is significant as it marks the first time representatives of a company listed on France's CAC-40 index have stood trial for moral harassment.

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What led to the unprecedented moral harassment charges against France Telecom executives?

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