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.
Information technology consultancy Accenture has announced that it is reducing its workforce in Finland by about 570 persons. The company has started negotiations for laying off 250 persons, while another 320 are expected to leave after accepting a departure package. There is currently no timeline for the restructuring.
Accenture's decision to cut jobs in Finland follows its agreement with mobile phone maker Nokia in 2011 to take on 1200 employees cut by Nokia. These employees were previously involved in developing Nokia's Symbian operating system, which Nokia decided to substitute with Windows Phone. Accenture reports that it has placed about 500 of those employees into Windows-related development and offered departure packages to the rest.
Union representatives have criticised the way the Nokia-Accenture's deal has been carried out. In their view, redundancies were to be expected anyway as Symbian development is ultimately phased out. Outsourcing to Accenture was therefore simply a postponement of redundancies.
As reported, Finland has applied for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).
Eurofound (2012), Accenture, Internal restructuring in Finland, factsheet number 73614, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/73614.