TP France has restructured its operations and transferred them to a different entity. This is detrimental to the working conditions and jobs of French TP employees, according to various sources.

 

TP has the activities in France (which include approximately thirteen facility contact centers) recently incorporated into a new entity called VelsiaTP hasn't actively publicized this name change. However, French job boards explicitly mention "Velsia, formerly Teleperformance." Only the website of the French trade journal In touch a logo of Velsia can be found.

TP France hasn't just changed its name. Its legal structure has also changed. While TP France was a SA, intended for large, often listed companies, Velsia has been incorporated into a so-called SAS. A SAS offers significant more administrative freedoms than an SA, and the change may therefore indicate a need for accelerated decision-making without the involvement of social partners. Velsia houses all French TP sites. It is noteworthy that Velsia is registered under SIREN number 353 380 793, the same as that of Teleperformance France, established on February 1, 1990.

Toilet visit

Velsia recently drew up a new collective agreement that adjusts the working conditions, which is why the CGT trade union has decided to to sound the alarmThe union (as the only union to do so, with an agreement reportedly being reached with other unions) rejects this so-called "Accord d'Aménagement du Temps de Travail" (ATT). According to the CGT, the break would henceforth be 20 minutes for workdays up to 9 hours, and working hours would no longer be measured per week, but per year. This latter point means that overtime during busy weeks would no longer be paid directly, but would be compensated with time off during quieter weeks elsewhere in the year. The CGT also alleges that there is a "chronométrage" (time spent on toilet breaks): time spent on toilet breaks would have to be made up.

The CGT union points out in a statement that Velsia's management is largely composed of leaders from Majorel and Arvato, companies known for a very strict and figures-driven culture. The company is led by Jean-luc Bergel, who worked for a long time in top positions at BPO service provider Arvato, a BPO player that was later acquired by Majorel.

Motives unclear

Several reasons may lie behind the name change and the governance changes. The French market is characterized by high labor costs, strict labor regulations, and lower margins, which may be a reason to separate the French operations from the global "TP" brand, which focuses on low-wage countries, automation, and digitalization.

With new employment conditions, the French operations could potentially become more viable. The formation of Velsia could also point to plans for sale or a terminal operation.

Ziptone submitted several questions to TP France, but received no response.

Strategy TP

In various media statements over the past year, TP has stated that its business focuses on India, Africa, and the Philippines. In the latter country, the company now employs 60.000 people; a new hub opened there in October. Conversely, there are reorganizations underway in its home country.

When the company announced at the end of 2024 that it would cut some 800 jobs in France to delete, it was promised that no further closures would follow. However, Velsia recently decided to close its contact center in the French town of Laval. While it is a small location, the closure contradicts TP's earlier promises from 2024.

(Ziptone/Erik Bouwer)

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