This investigation begins near Rennes in Cesson-Sévigné where we met the widow of an Orange employee who committed suicide in 2023. Philippe Le Gall was 53 years old, 32 of whom spent at Orange. At the time, he joined France Télécom as a civil servant. He rose through the ranks until he became an engineer. A job that he loved, says his widow Pascale Provot: “When we discussed work, it was always ‘Orange, Orange, Orange’, he recognized that it was a great job and that he had nothing to complain about.”
However, on September 13, 2023, the engineer ended his life after a suicide attempt a month earlier. “When I came home, he was filming in the garage, I asked him what was wrong. He told me that he wanted to kill himselfsays Pascale. I said to him “but why aren’t you there?” And he answers me: 'No, I can't manage my work anymore. I can't sort things out anymore.' I tell him that in fact, if he talks to me about it, it's to let me know and that he won't do it… He replies: “Yes, yes, it's a call to help.' And then, actually, he did it. And he did exactly what he told me.”
That day, Philippe Le Gall hanged himself in his garage. His name is added to the long list of suicides at Orange. Around thirty for two years out of 65,000 employees, according to the unions.
The causes of suicide are obviously often multiple but in the case of Philippe Le Gall, the link between his action and his professional activity is beyond doubt. Suicide is reclassified as a work accident. In October, Pascale Provot received a letter from health insurance which“informs that the death which followed the accident of Mr. Philippe Le Gall is covered under the legislation relating to occupational risk”.
The branch in which Philippe worked was targeted by a voluntary departure plan with 640 positions eliminated, including around forty employees who remain to be reclassified today. Philippe was afraid of losing his job, says one of his colleagues. “Philippe's activity was on slightly older networks which were in decline because now the new technologies are the cloudexplains Christophe Cariou. Philippe's job was going to disappear in the medium term, we'll say.”
To keep up with technological developments, Orange is in the process of restructuring and many employees are worried. Several reports from occupational physicians written in 2023 and which we were able to consult bear witness to this. They show an increase in workload, uncertainty about the future of jobs and unclear objectives.
All in a deleterious social climate, according to this employee, who works in the Paris region, who testifies anonymously: “I have colleagues, when talking with them, they told me: 'I have a lump in my stomach in the morning.’ Some have come back from burnout. We hear about company reorganization, services that must adapt, professions that must change. And, above all, behind it, we don't have very good communication from management to explain major projects.”
“We are in 2024. To still have people committing suicide because of work, at least largely because of work, is not something that is logical and understandable.”
An Orange employeeat franceinfo
The unions are afraid that this wave of suicides at France Telecom fifteen years ago will be repeated. They have drawn up a list of victims and see a link with the ongoing restructuring and are calling for a moratorium. Management refuses.
Faced with these accusations, Orange management is defending itself. “The company must transform”responds Vincent Lecerf, director of human resources at Orange on the question of restructuring. Suicides are taken seriously enough that the subject was raised at the board meeting in October.
And for each tragedy, an investigation is launched. “We have put in place for many years and after the 2009 crisis, risk prevention, team support and support systems, which are exceptional in terms of resourcesexplains Vincent Lecerf. There are 500 people working on risk prevention, more than 50 doctors, psychologists, social workers, safety engineers.”
“We pay particular attention, particularly in social dialogue, to best prevent all our risks.”
Vincent Lecerf, human resources director at Orangeat franceinfo
This support makes the CFDT say, unlike other unions, that we should not draw hasty parallels with the social crisis at France Telecom at the end of the 2000s even if it remains vigilant. Moreover, on this crisis of the 2000s, the Court of Cassation must examine, Wednesday November 13, the appeals of the former CEO of France Telecom Didier Lombard after his conviction on appeal for harassment which resulted in a wave of suicides.
If you need help, if you are worried or if you are faced with the suicide of a member of your entourage, there are anonymous listening services. The line Suicide listens(New window) can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 01 45 39 40 00. Other information is also available on the Ministry of Health website(New window).
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