Meyrin: “toxic” HR management of the Conforma store denounced

According to Syna, “toxic management” is rife within the Conforama store in Meyrin. In a press release, the union affirms that a “deleterious atmosphere” has taken hold in the store since the arrival of a new manager at the beginning of 2023. It points to a “management based on distrust, divisions and constant pressure, leading to a significant deterioration in working conditions.

The manager has already fired thirteen people and eight are currently on sick leave due to burnout. According to the union, staff are mobilizing in the face of “unfair dismissals” and “harmful management” by demanding “immediate changes”.

According to Syna, staff denounce discrimination between employees, pressure, unfounded accusations of theft or even the creation of fear by resorting to blackmail of dismissal.

Syna further claims that personal data such as medical certificates would be put on the store’s server and accessible to all staff. In addition, video surveillance would be misused to monitor the behavior of employees. Finally, legal break times would not be respected and schedules “made very late then modified at will”.

Syna says it has been mandated by employees and plans progressive actions to make itself heard “in the face of the refusal of Conforama’s general management to take measures commensurate with the damage caused.”

Corrective measures

HR Director of Conforama Switzerland, Bénédicte Fleury reacts: “We strongly contest Syna’s description of the situation. The facts do not have the magnitude that the union wants to give them.”

She adds: “We would like to express our astonishment at the media approach adopted by Syna. For several weeks, we have been maintaining a constructive dialogue with them regarding the situation within our Meyrin store.”

She adds: “We take the concerns raised very seriously and have implemented several corrective measures. We took measures at the store management level and immediately rectified the errors identified. We listened to and regularly informed employees about the evolution of the situation and the decisions taken, thus maintaining an open dialogue with them. The management of Conforama Switzerland has chosen to maintain the current management of the store, and believes that the situation has improved.”

The manager concludes: “Syna has been kept informed of all our decisions and actions. We are continuing our efforts to restore a peaceful climate within the establishment.”

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Go Armanios has been a journalist in the Geneva section since August 2022 and covers cantonal politics in particular.More info

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