News
France Telecom signs an agreement concerning 'senior' employees
26 November 2009
France Telecom-Orange signed an agreement concerning the employment of senior staff in France and on measures to develop the second half of careers for employees in France. The agreement was signed with the CFDT, CFTC, CGT and FO, who together represent 68% of votes cast during the last employee representative elections.
This agreement will:
- remain applicable for three years (2010-2012), applies to all the Group's employees in France regardless of their contractual status and to all legal entities in which France Telecom SA directly or indirectly holds at least a 50% stake.
- aims to implement practical measures to provide job stability and improved employment opportunities for senior staff in order to make optimum use of their experience and facilitate knowledge transfer.
- aims to provide better support and develop the procedures surrounding the end of employees' careers.
1) Anticipating the evolution of professional careers
"Career orientation" interviews will be held for employees aged 45 and over, with 10,000 interviews expected.
2) Developing skills and qualifications; increasing access to training
This guarantees access to training for employees aged 45 and over, with a commitment to reduce by 20% the gaps that exist between employees aged 45 and over and all employees both in terms of access to training and in terms of actual training hours.
3) Improved measures for end of careers; managing the transition between working life and retirement
"Seniors orientation" interviews for employees aged 55 and over to discuss the end of their careers with 7,500 "seniors orientation" interviews expected.
Measuring Success
The Group has made a commitment to increase the average age at which senior staff (employees aged 55-years or over) leave the company by nine months over the next three years.
The agreement allows for the deployment of a "part-time for seniors" plan for all employees who are eligible for retirement with full benefits within three years and who wish to adjust their working time.
The plan is available for all employees regardless of their status - public-sector or contract -, and enables them to work on a 50% part-time basis, with the support of the company, during a period of at least 18 months and no longer than three years.
The plan, which enables employees to retire early, is based on four packages:
- 65% of pay: 18 months part-time work, 18 months freed-up time
- 70% of pay: 2 years part-time work, 12 months freed-up time
- 75% of pay: 2 and half years part-time work, 6 months freed-up time
- 80% of pay: 3 years part-time work, as planned
The Group estimates that around 14,000 employees will be eligible for this plan. Over the three-year period, the Group will replace employees at a rate of 50%, 1,500 full-time staff over the next three years.
4) Transferring knowledge & skills; the development of tutoring
Promoting the concept of tutoring, and to recognise the role of the tutor; setting up a base of 1,600 tutors and trained apprentice masters over the period of the agreement.
Other specific measures include distance working systems, access to sponsorship programs, volunteer work, annual medical checks for employees aged 55 and over, a stronger role for Health and Safety representatives, and a greater awareness among managers of the specific needs and expectations of senior staff.
The agreement applies from 1 January 2010.