Audit of AFP HR practices: Management has finally listened to us!

AFP’s CEO convened the HQ trade unions on Monday, February 24, to announce that he had decided to launch an external audit of human resources management and workplace suffering at the Agency.

This audit follows a recurrent demand from SUD, including in our latest statement published in response to the announcement of a criminal complaint regarding alleged harassment and a report from the labor inspector who has reportedly received at least twenty various complaints. As SUD has advocated for several months, this current situation requires an outside perspective to analyze HR practices and the suffering observed within the company. As we wrote: "The status quo is no longer tenable."

It is reassuring that management finally acknowledges this. We welcome this decision to initiate the audit, which is undoubtedly necessary for moving forward together — management and unions — to address this situation. It is in the interest not only of employees but also of the Agency. We also welcome the CEO’s decision to entrust the audit to Sextant, a firm that has long worked with AFP and enjoys the trust of staff representatives. Of course, the audit’s scope still needs to be defined, but the CEO stated he is open to it being broad and defining its parameters in collaboration with staff representatives. A sound approach to obtain useful results.

All categories concerned

This audit, in our view, must in particular examine the appointment process, which is a major source of frustration within the newsroom. However, it must not overlook other professional categories, especially technical and administrative staff, where successive reorganizations and non-replacement of staff have led to workload increases, stress, and heightened tensions. SUD believes it is also necessary to include an outside body to hear from employees who feel they have been victims of harassment or mistreatment during their careers. Their testimonies, even if old, will be useful for better understanding the mechanisms that may have led to suffering at the workplace.

It has never been SUD’s intention to launch a witch hunt or to challenge the entire agency hierarchy but rather to seek a fresh start with a solid foundation to reduce tensions and address workplace suffering. It is essential that we improve the Agency’s workplace practices as we face the challenges that are shaking up the media industry and threatening journalism itself.

Paris, February 25, 2025

SUD-AFP (Solidarity-Unity-Democracy)