CEC European Managers' President at the service of occupational health

Maxime Legrand, re-elected this year for a second term as President of the European Confederation of Managers (CEC European Managers), continues to defend the interests of European managers fervently.

During his visit last May to the teams of the National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS) in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, he praised the crucial role of the institution in the prevention of occupational risks. He stressed the urgency of acting for health at work.

An unwavering commitment to occupational health

As CEC President and representative of the CFE-CGC, Maxime Legrand met with dedicated INRS professionals, including researchers, technicians, ergonomists, and psychologists.

“These teams are particularly involved and proud of their work, and I understand them perfectly,” he said. However, this visit took place in a context of tension: the Objectives and Management Convention, essential to the operation of the INRS, had been blocked for 18 months, putting pressure on already overloaded teams.

The INRS, true to its motto “Your safety is our job,” plays a fundamental role in identifying and analyzing occupational risks and disseminating good practices to companies.

“The work they do saves lives and reduces accidents,” recalled Maxime Legrand.

Alarming occupational risks

With 640,000 workplace accidents recorded each year in France and two deaths per day in the workplace, Maxime Legrand recalls the scale of the challenges.

These human, family, and collective tragedies highlight the need to make health at work a central part of national and European priorities.

“Working eight hours sitting without moving, wearing an exoskeleton or welding aluminum nanoparticles – all situations that require an in-depth risk analysis,” he illustrated.

Health at work is a strategic lever to re-enchant managerial functions. The CEC, representing one million managers in 15 European countries, campaigns to give managers meaning and resources.

Being a manager is a great job, but you need suitable working conditions and adequate training, particularly on topics such as mental health and teleworking
Maxime Legrand
President of CEC European Managers

Legrand is also concerned about the crisis in managerial vocations, exacerbated by missions distorted by excessive reporting and a lack of trust in organizations.

“It is time to restore this trust and allow managers to focus on what is essential: team management.”

European issues: AI, teleworking, and the 4-day week

Under the leadership of Maxime Legrand, the CEC is also tackling emerging challenges, such as the impact of artificial intelligence or the organization of post-Covid work. While in favor of experiments such as the four-day week with wages maintained, the CEC European Managers nevertheless insist on the risk of work intensification.

As shown by the Conference on the reduction of working time held in Brussels on 17 and 18 October, some studies show that shorter working hours reduce sick leave by 65%.

We must ensure that these innovations improve working conditions without compromising the health of employees.

Finally, on teleworking, Legrand advocates for a balance between flexibility and respect for employees’ rights while recalling that digital over-solicitation and blurring boundaries between private and professional life remain significant pitfalls.

Maxime Legrand embodies a modern and humane vision of management, where health at work is not a constraint but an asset.

His message is clear: “Health is the most precious capital. Let’s protect it for employees, their families, and society.”