The liquidation of Monster Europe is now inevitable, almost a year after the creation of a joint venture between Monster and Careerbuilder, the shareholders Randstad (49 %) and Apollo (51 %) interrupted any financial support for the ex-Pioneer of online recruitment, condemning its activity on the continent. In France, more than 200 employees are affected by the closure, without any reclassification or support solution having been proposed.
After buying the company in 2016, Randstad remained 100 % of it until September 2024, before yielding the majority of the capital to Apollo, while retaining 49 % of the shares. Since then, Randstad presents himself as a simple minority shareholder, invoking the absence of operational control. A positioning strongly disputed by staff representatives.
A company agreement, signed under the aegis of Randstad and valid until 2027, provided for reinforced support for the employees concerned by an economic dismissal, in particular senior profiles, in reconversion or carrying entrepreneurial projects. This commitment would no longer be respected, officially requested by the elected officials of staff, Randstad would have opposed an end of inadmissibility, considering not having to assume the social consequences of a society of which it no longer holds the majority.
At the same time, targeted payments were made for group executives of the group, $ 1.2 million in “Award transaction” for the management of the liquidation, and nearly 5 million euros unlocked during the launch of the joint venture in 2024 as part of a shareholder plan. No equivalent device has been put in place for employees, whose allowances and wages must be supported by the French public system.
This situation questions, on the one hand, on the effective scope of social commitments contracted by large companies, in particular when they modify their capital structure, on the other hand, on the capacity of shareholders to assume their share of social matters, beyond the strict legal perimeter. Finally, it relaunches the debate on the role of the State and taxpayers in the indirect financing of disengagement decisions taken by solvent groups.
The employees of Monster France, still mobilized, today call on Randstad to respect his historical commitments and to fully assume his social responsibility.
