Hide summary
In March 2024, EY-Parthenon revealed the results of its annual study devoted to the French's favorite brands. With the help of the Dynata survey institute, they surveyed more than 10,000 French consumers online, recording around 62,000 opinions. Among the 171 brands noted, it was Action who won the big title.
For the second year in a row, the brand has established itself as the French people's favorite store. The leader in low-cost items has gained success with inflation, at the cost of certain sacrifices.
Action: working conditions of certain employees revealed
On the evening of December 12, Complément d'investigation revealed the hidden side of the French's favorite store. The investigative magazine denounces in particular the grueling working conditions for some 74,500 employees of the company.
To save money, Action relies on careful management and constant tracking of costs. From unloading products in its warehouses to putting them on shelves in stores, it is governed by an ultra-optimized organization. A choice which is not without consequences for certain employees.
To have
Action hits hard with this €3 accessory which doubles the efficiency of your heating
Employees at checkouts and on shelves are under constant pressure. They must put the products on the shelves within a specified time, under penalty of reprimands.
Additional investigation has obtained internal documents showing that turnover in certain regions reaches a level of 70% to 80%. Moreover, the number of occupational illnesses and work accidents would be increasing in these numbers.
But according to AFP, not all Action employees complain about their working conditions. Action often criticized by unions in the past for its personnel management.
But according to a spokesperson in France, it provides a time indication for store deliveries for planning purposes only. This is partly to ensure that they have enough staff available to carry out the work.
The quality and safety of some products are compromised
The Complementary Investigation teams also pointed out the non-compliance and dangerousness of certain items sold at Action. The Dutch brand makes arrangements with their suppliers to always receive products at the lowest possible prices. To the point of neglecting the quality and safety of certain products.
To have
More trendy than Action and cheaper than IKEA, this new discounter is arriving in France
Among the items tested, ten toys were found to be non-compliant while the brand says it has already removed 28 items deemed dangerous from its shelves. Moreover, one of their items recently suffered a product recall.
On November 24, the government site Rappel Conso warned against a toy sold at Action. This toy in question is a doll feeding kit from the Dolly Star brand.
According to Consumer Recall, the fork present in the kit can break into a multitude of small parts. These small parts may present a choking hazard if ingested by young children. Additionally, the resulting sharp edges can cause injury.
Another toy marketed by the brand also suffered a product recall earlier this year. On May 2, 2024, Rappel conso also denounced a Scoubidou Kit and accessories from Action.
