Three former colleagues of Manu Levy, who notably accuse the star host of NRJ of “moral harassment” which he contests, won their case against the radio this Friday, November 15 at the industrial tribunal, the latter being ordered to pay them more than €300,000.
A “great victory”
The industrial tribunal notably reclassified as permanent contracts the contracts of Isabelle Giami and Valentin Chevalier, compensated for dismissal “without real and serious cause”according to the judgment, which was attended by a journalist from theAFP.
He canceled the conventional termination of Aude Fraineau's contract, who also demanded overtime.
All three, who left the station in 2023, must also be compensated for moral damage.
“It’s a big, fairly clear and severe victory for NRJ”welcomed their lawyer Me Pierre Vignal, joined by theAFP on the phone. “Clearly, moral harassment has been recognized.”
“NRJ takes note of the decisions announced, the details and motivations of which are not known as they stand, and will not be available for several days, so they must be interpreted with caution”qualified the radio in a statement sent to AFP.
Elle “reserves the right to appeal” and emphasizes “that the plaintiffs’ requests are based in part on accusations taken up by an internal investigation in 2023” the validity of which is contested.
The case had five plaintiffs, four of whom were successful.
“Their health damaged”
Cyrille Laporte, member of the social and economic committee (CSE), who contested a warning after an attempted dismissal, must also be compensated to the tune of €8,000 by Chérie FM, owned by NRJ.
Pauline Goireau, who linked the end of her trial period in the NRJ podcast subsidiary to the fact that her partner, Valentin Chevalier, was “whistleblower”was dismissed.
Manu Levy's former collaborators, at the helm of the radio morning show since 2011, criticize him “extreme control” et “an immense workload”explained Me Vignal to theAFP in April.
“All have seen their health affected” et “suffered career damage”he added, affirming that the harassment was “the determining factor” in their departure from the station.
The host “categorically refutes all the facts with which (he is) burdened”. “In 13 seasons on NRJ, I have not been aware of any complaint concerning me. Over the last 10 years, Valentin Chevalier has stayed 8 years, Isabelle Giami 5 years”he emphasized in April in a statement sent to theAFP.
Gaël Sanquer, deputy director of musical media for the NRJ group, pointed out the “blackboard, caricatured and misleading” drawn up by the plaintiffs.
In parallel with the industrial tribunal procedure, two investigations are underway, according to Me Vignal, one targeting a colleague of Manu Levy for sexual assault, the other NRJ for witness tampering.
