France Telecom employee sets self on fire at Merignac

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: BBC

A France Telecom worker has committed suicide by setting himself on fire in a work car park, management and unions have said.

The 57-year-old employee, who had four children, had worked for the company for over 30 years.

He is reported to have had several transfers within the firm in recent years, which he was unhappy about.

There were more than 30 reported suicides in 2008 and 2009 at the company which employs 100,000 people.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13204168?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Liberal Veteran]

1. I never quite understood the whole "setting yourself on fire" thing.

That's a really painful way to die.

My condolences to his family.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. More than 30 suicides at one company?

Wow.

[freeplessinseattle]

3. wow is right! what is going on there? eom

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Yeah, even Deanna Troi would have no problem sensing a morale problem there.

That's just bizarre.

[Riftaxe]

5. Considering the last statistics i can find

are 26.4 for men and 9.2 for women per 100,000 in France, and that the 30 are split over a 2 year period...It sounds like not much of a problem for that Telcom.

[quakerboy]

6. Thats a bit high

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/4204837/France-under-strain.html

"The suicide rate in France is amongst the highest in the industrialised world. At 17.6 per 100,000 head of population it is around 2.5 times the rate of the UK."