This article details accounts from former Royal Canin employees who experienced layoffs, alleging abusive practices and a toxic work environment. One former employee describes being dismissed abruptly and then pressured into signing a severance agreement in a humiliating manner. She subsequently lost her case in the lower court, unable to pursue it further.
Several employees recount similar experiences, including being forced out due to disagreements or as part of restructuring. The volume of these cases is difficult to definitively determine due to the prevalence of negotiated departures and lack of public reporting. The article also highlights instances of burnout, with employees describing feelings of worthlessness, excessive workloads, and lack of managerial support leading to health problems.
One employee, Françoise, describes her experience leading to burnout and ultimately a recognized disability by the worker’s compensation system, with her doctor likening the effects to a stroke. She expresses an inability to return to the workforce in any capacity. Another former employee, Jacques, discusses a 'brown-out' period where his work was rendered meaningless, eventually culminating in his negotiated departure.
The article repeatedly alleges a pattern of toxic management, with the company facing numerous lawsuits, some settled quietly. The interviewees’ descriptions often depict a system which is unforgiving of dissent, where employees are silenced and left unsupported. While some blame is placed on a ‘management-by-American-methods’ system which is described as toxic to the company culture, there is an overall concern for the remaining Royal Canin employees.