Orange bosses guilty of 'moral harassment' that led to employees' suicides

Three former senior bosses of French telecoms giant Orange have been found guilty of "moral harassment" that led three of its staff to commit suicide.

A trial in France analysed the methods employed at Orange during a huge reorganisation in the late 2000s that put workers under so much pressure that they took their own lives.

The trial looked at 39 cases between 2006 and 2009 that resulted in 19 suicides, 12 suicide attempts and eight cases of serious depression. The court ruled that the methods used by the compay were the cause behind the wave of suicides.

The Paris court heard evidence from family members and witnesses and read out notes from the victims, one said: "I am committing suicide because of my work at France Telecom, it's the only cause."

The company acknowledged that people had suffered as a result of management errors but denied that there was a deliberate policy of harassment in place.

Former chief executive Didier Lombard, 77, was sentenced to a year in jail and a €15,000 (£12,778) fine.

Lombard, 77 admitted in court that he told senior managers in 2007 regarding employees: "I'll get them out one way or another, through the window or through the door.”

He also admitted to once saying there was "a pattern of suicide in the business".

Human resources director Olivier Barberot and Lombard's former right-hand man, Louis-Pierre Wenes, were also convicted for leading a "policy of destabilisation". Four other managers were convicted of complicity.

The company will also have to pay around €3.5m (£3m) in fines and compensation.

It is the first time that a French court has recognised "institutional harassment".