FRANCE

A 25th suicide at France Telecom

A 48-year-old engineer working for France Telecom in Brittany hung himself on Thursday. It is the 25th case of suicide at the French telecommunication giant since February 2008.

Advertising

AFP - A France Telecom employee committed suicide on Thursday, becoming the 25th staff member to kill himself over the past 20 months, a company official said.

The 48-year-old engineer hung himself in his Brittany home, one month after he had taken medical leave following a recommendation from the company doctor.

The latest death brought to 25 the number of employees who have taken their lives since February last year at France Telecom, a former state monoply that has been under major restructuring.

Many of the employees have left notes blaming management decisions or stress at work.

The telecoms giant, which employs 100,000 people in France and trades internationally as Orange, announced a raft of measures last month to end what chairman Didier Lombard called a "death spiral" at the company.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app