BRISTOL, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the week that a French court has launched an investigation into whether France Telecom should face trial over the suicide of its workers, Louis Pierre Wenes (former deputy CEO of the group) gives his first public interview since his resignation exclusively to MeetTheBoss.TV.
After increasing pressure and with the direct involvement of the French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, Wenes handed in his resignation from France Telecom in October last year after twenty-four of his staff committed suicide. But Wenes insists he was a “scapegoat” for the atrocities and was repeatedly “stabbed in the back.”
MeetTheBoss.TV can confirm that Wenes has received a complaint for “moral harassment potentially leading to suicide”.
Louis was blamed for implementing brutal cost-cutting measures that caused widespread distress amongst his staff. Union leaders pointed the finger at Louis for the suicides owing to a vicious, target-obsessed company culture in which, they say, qualified employees were pushed to "breaking" point. However, since Wenes' departure a further nine people have taken their own life.
“A few months ago everybody was committing suicide because of stress. Now people are still committing suicide and it's not because of stress. Why didn’t we talk ever about people who committed suicide in early 2000? Why don’t we care about their memories?” states Wenes.
An astonishing 22,000 staff have resigned in the last four years. Those who remain have been shifted into high-pressure call centres where individuals compete for monthly results-based bonuses. Mr Wenes, 60, had been overseeing a programme called "Next" to modernise the firm.
Throughout the interview Wenes maintained “All I asked from my people was do the best you can, I can’t expect more than your best, but not less because we need it.” When asked about the 24 suicides in 18 months he replied “I do not want to underestimate the issue, but it’s a biased view of the situation, if we look at the facts the suicide rate at France Telecom did not increase during that period, it was more in the year 2000 and similar to the overall French corresponding population.”
This week an investigative judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to open a court case accusing France Telecom and Wenes of involuntary homicide.
The first public interview with Louis Pierre Wenes (former deputy of France Telecom) is available this week on MeetTheBoss.TV
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