Asia - Europe Business

France Telecom CEO faces backlash over suicides

France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard has faced calls for his resignation in France following the recent suicide of a France Telecom employee, the 24th such incident at the firm in the last 18 months. According to a Financial Times report, France's opposition socialists and far-left parties have demanded that Lombard resigns immediately and takes "responsibility" for the management practices that unions say have pushed some vulnerable staff members to the edge. France Telecom - the company behind the Orange mobile brand - is still 27 percent-owned by the French state and 65 percent of its estimated 100,000 employees are classed as civil servants. Lombard faced questions at a social affairs committee this week and was told "to take more account of the human factor in work organisation." He was also criticised by union leaders for his slow response to the problem, which he controversially described recently as a "fashion."

 

Lisa

 

Defusing Stress At Work

In many cases, workplace stress is an ongoing problem that requires dedicated attention. On the organizational level, improvements such as better delegation of responsibility help relieve stress by taking the workload off of key employees. On a personal level, relaxation and coping techniques are suggested in many articles.

Name your stress. Identifying what's stressing you out is the first step to managing it. You may also want to keep a stress diary where you record the occasions that are stressful to you, or trigger anger or anxiety that cause a physical response like sour stomach or a headache.

Divide. a massive job into manageable parts and manage job complexity by delegating responsibly. Delegate! Delegate! Cultivate allies at work to help with monumental tasks as they present themselves.

Take care of yourself. Get enough rest. Build quiet time each day, even if it's just a few minutes. Learn relaxation techniques. Maintain good nutrition and increase water consumption. As an expert says, "Stress-related headaches are often simple cases of dehydration."

Reward yourself. Mark successes with anything from a candy bar to a night out. Don't just charge ahead to the next impossible task. As the experts say, "Give yourself a medal" and savor the moment.

Learn to laugh. Laughing releases endophines in the body, which helps you function more effectively. Laughter also enhances creativity.

Get fit. Exercise is unparalleled for reducing stress and improving your health. If intense workouts are not for you, try yoga or pilates. These mind-body exercises are slower paced and more relaxing. When choosing the best exercise program for yourself, consider what you are trying to accomplish and what you enjoy.

Take vacation. It's important to have a proper break to fully disconnect from the pressures of work and re-energize. By booking a vacation in advance you also have something fun to look forward to...and don't take the laptop along.

Get help. if things are just too stressful. Consider a good personal or employee assistance counselor. Talking to someone with an objective viewpoint can put a fresh perspective on problems.

Try it, and you will feel better!

Lisa