Paris: The ex-head of France Telecom Didier Lombard was placed under investigation for harassment over a slew of suicides during his tenure, as the probe widened on Thursday to other former top executives.
Lombard, who ran the company between 2005 and 2010, was told on WEdnesday he was being investigated for workplace harassment and put on bail of USD 125,000, his lawyer Jean Veil said.
Veil said Lombard had been heard by investigating magistrate Pascal Gand and “provided explanations on the economic, technological and regulatory conditions in which France Telecom evolved”.
Lombard stepped down in March 2010 after 35 suicides among employees between 2008 and 2009. Europe’s biggest Internet provider and its third mobile operator, trading internationally as Orange, France Telecom underwent major restructuring to confront growing competition.
During his time in charge, Lombard oversaw a huge reorganisation at France Telecom that involved the loss of 22,000 jobs between 2006 and 2008. In addition, more than 10,000 employees were switched to other jobs.
Veil said that Lombard had told the magistrate about “the particularly unfavourable competition rules that the government imposed on this business” when it was privatised.
Lombard wrote in Le Monde daily on Wednesday that the restructuring programme, vital to remain competitive in a changing market was not responsible for the suicides.
Although the suicide rate at France Telecom is lower than the French average, many of the employees had left notes blaming management decisions or stress at work.
Representatives of the company itself will face the magistrate on Friday and may be told that the company has also been placed under investigation. (AFP)
