Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
The management of Veolia Water France has announced a restructuring plan with 572 job cuts in its water activities in France and 987 measures of functional or geographical mobility that could lead to a dismissal if an employee refuses mobility proposals. The company has open negotiations with unions on a social plan to adapt the structure of its jobs and its staff.
Since 2014, Veolia Eau had already launched three reorganisations plan with job reductions (two were recorded 808 job cuts in 2014, 430 job cuts in 2016), but for the first time, the reorganisation includes forced dismissals. The water division of Veolia is affected by the financial crisis that forced some municipalities and local authorities to renegotiate water service concession or to take over this activity on their own. There is also a sharp competition within the sector. To reduce the workforce, Veolia Eau will propose early retirement, a voluntary departure plan and the functional or geographical mobility measures.
If the job reductions threshold is not reached with these measures, then the management will proceed with forced dismissals. Out of the 572 job cuts, 291 will affect the call centres activities with the closure of 7 centres on a total of 10. Only 3 will remain open (Liévin, Vaux-en-Velin and Montpellier) , the call centres will focus on "added-value" calls and the other calls will be externalised or handled by robots. The remaining job cuts will affect support functions at the headquarter with a reduction of the hierarchical lines from 3 to 2. The group expects to double its profitability and to increase its turnover from €2.9 billion in 2016 to €3 billion in 2027.
Eurofound (2017), Veolia Eau, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 91335, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/91335.
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