A Red Cross employee in French Guiana committed suicide in 2021, later ruled a work-related accident due to employer negligence.
Employee's suicide recognized as work-related accident
In the night of October 6 to 7, 2021, Olivier Morel, 49, an employee of the Red Cross of French Guiana for over twelve years, committed suicide in his company-provided housing in Cayenne. He worked as an administrative and financial officer at the time.Court rules employer at fault
A social division of the Lille (Nord) court of first instance recognized Morel’s suicide as a work-related accident on September 4, 2025. The court attributed the incident to "the inexcusable fault" of his employer, the French Red Cross.Employees report high stress levels
Current and former employees of the Red Cross’s territorial delegation in French Guiana have spoken out about a high level of stress and distress in the workplace. They describe an environment that contributes to mental health challenges.Red Cross denies negligence
Despite the court’s ruling, the management of the French Red Cross claims to be attentive to working conditions and denies any negligence in the handling of employee well-being.
