Employers are constantly confronted with greater obligations to ensure health, safety and, more generally, the well-being of their employees in the workplace and during working hours. It is particularly important to satisfy these obligations, some of which carry criminal penalties, particularly as regards the medical surveillance of staff, work-related accidents, occupational illnesses or even suffering at work (stress, psychological or sexual harassment).

From a collective viewpoint, August & Debouzy advises its clients on defining and implementing their health and safety policies (audit of work-related risks, drafting company rules and regulations, setting up health at work services, consultation of staff representation bodies on changes in working conditions, particularly in a context of crisis or restructuring, etc.).

We advise employers on individual matters of health and safety at work (handling cases of inaptitude, responding to allegations of psychological harassment or other cases of suffering in the workplace, internal investigations, etc.).

August & Debouzy acts for employers before the labour, civil and criminal courts, in connection with litigation relating to health, safety and working conditions. We have specific expertise in defending companies accused of liability for work-related accidents, psychological and sexual harassment and suicides related to work.

Our contentious work involves the resolution of disputes between employers and health, safety and working conditions committees (disputed expert reports, difficulties in information-consultation procedures, obstruction of staff representation bodies, etc.) or even cases where an expert has been appointed in commercial litigation regarding the compliance of machines or work equipment.