France Télécom is preparing to set aside €1 billion as part of a plan to end a spate of suicides amongst staff by offering older workers the chance to go part time.

The Gallic telecommunications giant, where 25 employees have killed themselves since 2008, announced the move as its unveiled a 6.4 per cent drop in third quarter profits.

To read this report in The Times in full, see:
business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article6895790.ece

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France Telecom sets aside €1bn for staff stress
France Telecom is to set aside up to €1bn to help ease tension among its French workforce after the suicides of 25 of its employees since the beginning of last year.

The money is to be earmarked for a scheme allowing staff aged 57 or older - who are considered the most susceptible to stress induced by the group’s constant reorganisation - to work part-time while keeping their pay.
www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3db5dbc2-c479-11de-912e-00144feab49a.html