Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
Smartphones Blamed for Rash of France Telecom Suicides
France's largest telecommunications company, France Telecom, has suffered through a staggering 22 employee suicides over the last year. If that isn't enough, another 13 workers actually survived failed attempts. In an interview with Reuters, company CFO Gervais Pellissier discussed exactly why he believes so many employees have been distraught and suicidal. He attributed some worker unhappiness to the recent privatization and restructuring of the company, which dramatically shifted the job responsibilities of over 15,000 of France Telecom's 102,000 employees. But, he believes a more significant contributor to the tragic phenomenon is the "CrackBerry" syndrome. Pellissier asserted that the stress of privatization has been exacerbated by having to constantly be connected, because employees, who have no escape from work or e-mail, have had difficulty discerning "between personal life and professional life."
To combat further attempts, Telecom plans to implement counseling services, and (since one employee stabbed himself in the stomach during an office meeting and a woman jumped from an office window) add increased surveillance. Pellissier believes the problem to be a "global society issue," so hopefully US companies will investigate and adopt preventive measures, rather than wait and take reactive ones. [From: Reuters]
16 Grammys Looks That Weren't Working
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Worst Movie Mistakes: Date Night Edition (PHOTOS)
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
PHOTOS: President Obama's Kissing Technique
Jennifer Hudson Whitney Tribute: Grammy President Reveals Why Singer Was Chosen for Musical Memorial
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
How Hattie Lost 300 Pounds: 'I Was Ready To Do Whatever It Took To Survive'
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation
Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay
People With Easy-To-Pronounce Names More Likely To Succeed, Study Says
Katy Perry Grammy Performance 2012: Did the Diva Diss Her Ex-Hubby With Revealing New Song?
Grammy Awards 2012: The Best & Worst Of The Red Carpet!
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
12 Grammys Stars Who Gave Good Style
The Top 10 Slacker Colleges
15 Funny Valentine's Day Cards
Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Oprah Under Fire For Controversial Tweet
PHOTOS: Thank God For Grown-Up Glamour
JUNGLE SURVIVAL: Marines Drink Snake Blood, Eat Insects
Remembering The People's Ballerina
New Clues, Details Emerge In Powell Case
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
PHOTOS: Kate Spends Valentine's Day Solo!
Taylor Swift Does Great Depression Chic
PHOTOS: Beautiful Scars
15 Funny Valentine's Day Quotes
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsjanuschristSep 26th 2009 10:10AM
Suicide affects everyone.
Rest in peace, Amy.
DamienSep 26th 2009 11:04AM
I don't know what problem people seem to be having, but you can't blame a comany for causing someone to commit suicide. If you had nothing good in your life going on, and the only thing you could do is associate work with life, then you are so weak minded that society as a whole would do far better off without you. Is that a harsh statement, yes but seriously isn't it taking things a little far saying because they get emails at home concerning work they become suicidal?
It's all about money people, if you can lay blame on someone for something, odds are you can sue. If you sue you get money, but at what expense? Is our economy bad only due to bad investment brokers, I think not. It is the giving away of money, of which we base entirely on something as useless as gold. Gold has no serious use to mankind other then looking nice, and to be honest it looks as nice to me as a piece of nicely made silver jewelery, only I know some moron paid $500 for it instead of $100.
And these are probably the same people commiting suicide, as they have no idea what they are doing with their wallets, let alone their lives. It might be harsh to say, but does society really need people such as this? Wouldn't they just wind up on top of some college campus tower popping shots at innocents with this kind of weak mindedness, or stringing together a 15 people slaughter only to wind up in history books as another troubled serial killer?
We are better off ultimately, though I do offer my regards to their families, but honestly it is survival of the fittest, and apparently they weren't in shape.
willow reedSep 26th 2009 5:58PM
hmmm....Damien, I agree with you in regard to what I think is a reaction to superficial idiots that tend to not want to work hard (thank you welfare states) to get anything.
I am not sure that merely getting emails at home was their problem but if it was, they surely don't work in the usa... :D
heh...
jbuphamSep 28th 2009 12:54AM
What has happened to journalistic integrity?
A quick google of 'France Suicide Rate' shows charts of rates 1950-2005, M,F & Total;
My interpretation of data is 21-23% / 100,000 [ Total, working age group = Employees of France Telecom].
Hence in about 3 minutes I have scientifically established that the actual rate (abt. 22%) = the rate for the company (stated: 22 deaths, # employees abt. 100K.
Hence again, this is NO story. Apparently, just to scare people in this "age of terrorism".
krystindianeSep 26th 2009 3:53PM
This is ridiculous ..seriously