HR problems at AFP: ’The status quo is no longer tenable’ »

A bomb landed on AFP’s HQ on Friday the 14th: a report by France Inter, relayed by Franceinfo, revealed that a journalist had filed a harassment lawsuit against AFP and the labor inspector had alerted prosecutors.

“We’re not France Telecom in the Didier Lombard era”, our CEO declared during a regularly scheduled works committee (CSE) meeting that day with staff representatives. It was an allusion – during a particularly tense meeting – to the concerns expressed by staff representatives about the risks of suicides due to a persistent malaise in the company.

An open secret

Our CEO was indignant at the revelation which in his opinion was due to malicious actors. This harassment case was already well known and was discussed during a tumultuous meeting of the works committee in October in the presence of the labor inspector. SUD strongly supported her insistence that AFP order an external investigation into the case in the face of the preference of management, and certain staff representatives, to conduct an internal investigation. For SUD, it was self-evident that HR could not carry out an investigation into the head of HR.

So, why didn’t trade unions say anything? Because after getting the green light for an external investigation there was a consensus among the trade unions not to speak publicly to avoid any interference. We wanted to allow the interviews to proceed calmly and to protect those involved. And the probe was initially due to have been completed by the end of the year.

Nevertheless, SUD alerted management and other staff representatives at that time about the need to launch a wider audit of HR and management policies. Such an investigation seemed even more necessary given we had denounced at the beginning of 2024 the handling of several cases of journalists who believed they had been poorly treated by their managers. And it was clearly necessary after learning that 20 people had complained to the labor inspector.

Now that the harassment case has become public, SUD reiterates its call from last autumn for an outside audit of the Agency’s HR practices. Such a probe is overdue and French law offers staff representatives the possibility to order such investigations, even without the support of management.

Denial and a lack of introspection

Management insisted on Friday that it is "committed to preserving the caring human resources culture that has characterized the company for decades." A declaration that, in our opinion, illustrates the extent of its denial and reluctance for introspection in the face of this complaint.

Management must stop turning a blind eye and admit, as it told us on Friday regarding yet another reform presented to the CSE, that "the status quo is no longer tenable". It could also have said it was sorry that so many employees felt the need to go see the labor inspector. Not a single word of compassion in the CSE meeting, but a lot of criticism of the unions.

If “caring” really is the order of the day, then management should agree to launch an audit to shed light on all these complaints! Unless once again it is worried about the cost. Spending 40,000 euros on such an outside probe was madness according to the CEO, who, on the other hand, has fewer qualms about spending a similar amount to organize the annual HQ party in September.

And it is not because "nearly half of the employees have more than 20 years of seniority" (according to management in the AFP dispatch on the subject), that they are happy in their work! SUD objects to such a pernicious conflation: people stay at AFP above all because of the visceral attachment they develop to this unique company and to the impossibility – for journalists – of finding similar work elsewhere.

Responsibility of senior management

It is too easy to ask the HR director to pack her bags, and naive to believe that her resignation alone would fundamentally change things. The problem is, in our opinion, much broader. HR policy is toxic at AFP because it supports the shortcomings and the attitude of the agency’s top hierarchy.

Within the newsroom it has been clear for years that senior managers are untouchable. When they leave their posts, it is to take up other management functions. A sort of circular movement that creates the feeling of an all-powerful caste. We see this, for example, in the development and implementation of reforms without consulting the rank and file.

As for the process of appointing journalists, it is a great source of frustration and suffering. Some people repeatedly see their applications rejected without valid explanations and without prospects of career development. Others suffer through interviews where they are mistreated, and their career accomplishments ignored or discounted. It is not surprising then that many consider that the final choice of appointments is made based on cronyism.

In the days ahead we need to avoid branding any of those who speak out as being disloyal. Management resorted to enough of that at Friday’s CSE meeting, attacking those who spoke to the media as “useful idiots”. Loving your company doesn’t mean keeping silent about unacceptable behavior.

Paris, February 17, 2025
SUD-AFP (Solidarity-Unity-Democracy)