Case application-Workplace stress can kill Between 2008 and 2011, more than 50 people at France Tlcom committed suicide. Many of the suicides and more than a dozen failed suicide attempts were attributed to work-related problems. The judicial inquiry began with a complaint by the union Solidares Unitaires Dmocratiques against France Tlcom's former chief executive and two members of his top management team. The complaint accused management of conducting a 'pathogenic restructuring'. Excerpts of the inspector's report were published in the French media and described a situation in which the company used various forms of psychological pressure in an effort to eliminate 22000 jobs. Company doctors alerted management to the possible psychological dangers of the stress that could accompany such drastic change. 'The spate of suicides highlighted a quirk at the heart of French society: Even with robust labour protection, workers see themselves as profoundly insecure in the face of globalisation, with many complaining about being pushed beyond their limits.' A company lawyer denied that France Tlcom had systematically pressured employees to leave. Company executives realised they needed to take drastic measures to address the issue. One of the first changes was a new CEO, Stphane Richard, who said his priority 'would be to rebuild the morale of staff who have been through trauma, suffering and much worse'. The company halted some workplace practices identified as particularly disruptive, such as involuntary transfers, and began encouraging more supportive practices, including working from home. A company spokesperson says the company has completed two of six agreements with unions that cover a wide range of workplace issues such as mobility, work-life balance and stress. Workplace conditions at China's Foxconn Technology Group were strongly criticised after a series of suicides among young workers. Employees often worked 76-hour weeks for low wages. Some workers said they had to stand so long, their legs swelled until they could barely walk. Other complaints revolved around child labour and hazardous waste. One worker said, 'The assembly line ran very fast and after just one morning we all had blisters and the skin on our hand was black. The factory was also really choked with dust and no one could bear it.' In early 2012, Apple and Foxconn reached an agreement to improve conditions for the workers assembling iPhones and iPads. According to the agreement, Foxconn would hire thousands of new workers to reduce overtime work, improve safety protocols, and upgrade housing and other amenities. It is also reported that the company has launched a US\$224 million project to build one million robots in the next three years to use in its factories. This 'empire of robots' will replace half a million Foxconn employees and move them 'higher up the value chain'. Discussion questions 1. What factors, both inside the companies and externally, appear to have contributed to this situation? 2. In France Tlcom's workplace, what stress symptoms might have alerted managers to a problem? 3. What are France Tlcom's and Foxconn's executives doing to address the situation? Are there other actions they might take? If so, describe those actions. If not, why not