La Poste investigates worker conditions after staff suicide
France’s La Poste is setting up a dialogue process with trade unions regarding the health and well-being of its employees, in the wake of a staff suicide last week. Police and health and safety officials in France are also investigating, after a young postal worker took his own life at his workplace last Wednesday.
La Poste staff observed a moment of silence yesterday morning, in memory of Jérémy Buan, a 28-year-old manager from Brittany, who jumped from the roof of the Rennes central post office, reportedly leaving behind a note suggesting his actions stemmed from “oppressive” working conditions.
The French postal operator said the thoughts of the whole postal community were with the affected family and loved ones.
La Poste said a special health and safety committee was set up the day after the incident to launch an investigation, alongside the other probes now underway by police and government health and safety officials.
“La Poste is making every effort to ensure that these investigations are conducted in the most appropriate way,” the firm said. “The company expresses its support and confidence in the entire supervisory staff and particularly those affected by these painful circumstances.”
Dialogue
La Poste president Jean-Paul Bailly has said as part of the company’s regular meetings with trade union representatives, he wants to establish a consultative “listening and dialogue” programme regarding health and well-being at work.
State-owned La Poste employs more than 276,000 people in its network, processing and transporting 27bn items of mail each year.
Buan joined La Poste in 2005, joining the company’s management programme in late 2011. Union representatives said the aggravating factor in his suicide was his move into a new role that was not related to his qualifications.
The father of a five-year-old girl stated in his final note that he was suffering constant stress with a lack of support from his superiors.
“Jeremy was very deliberate, dynamic, very sociable. but he went through various changes that were quite brutal, and not necessarily desired,” said Yohan Menard, departmental head of the union CFDT to French media.
The union is due to meet with La Poste this week regarding the incident.
