Mt Spokane Photography said:
Depending on the country and the laws, employees can lose retirement plans, their job, of course, their medical insurance, and all that goes with those losses. Their families suffer as well. Its not a pretty thought.
Well... They're a french company, so retirement plans and medical insurance are covered by the State. Unemployment benefits is decent when fired because the company failed. It's not ideal, and it's difficult (benefits are set at around 60% of last salary for up to two years or something like that) but it should be survivable for most of the employees (admin staff over 50 may have a rough time ahead though).
After that,for the moment, they have been put under judicial administration. A judge will look at the company and decide if it's salvageable. If it is, he'll help them restructure their debts,etc... If it's not, he will put the company's asset in an auction to reimburse the creditors. We'll know in a few months.