In a sector as demanding and fast-paced as the audiovisual industry, redesigning a Payroll & Time and Attendance HRIS is not just a simple tool change. It is a comprehensive transformation, combining regulatory challenges, human complexity, a diversity of employment statuses, and the imperative of service continuity.
This is the challenge taken on by France Médias Monde (FMM) – the parent company of France 24, RFI and MCD – with more than 1,800 employees worldwide, including many non-permanent staff (freelancers, intermittent workers, correspondents, etc.).
Christelle Mitchell, HRIS & Management Information Systems Manager at FMM, looks back on this experience alongside Althéa’s teams.
A project born out of an urgent need for transformation
The end of maintenance for the HR Access version used by FMM, scheduled for late 2024, required a rapid shift. The initial assessment was clear:
- Experienced payroll teams, but operations still largely informal and verbal
- No documented processes: no specifications, no payroll documentation, no white paper
Althéa’s involvement began with an in-depth audit, followed by the drafting of a white paper consolidating all practices and management rules. Objective: to lay the foundations for a robust, structured and sustainable new HRIS.
In parallel, a tender process led to the selection of the Pléiades solution from Sopra HR Software, for several reasons including its ability to address the specificities of the media sector and the diversity of the populations managed.
A structured… and human transition
Moving from a traditional way of working to a digital tool requires significant adjustments.
Christelle Mitchell shares: “The transition was a real challenge for all HRIS stakeholders in day-to-day management, who were used to more flexible ways of working. With Pléiades, we introduced paperless processes and empowered users through requests initiated directly in the tool and approved electronically.”
The digitisation of processes marked a real turning point for FMM, modernising HR practices and establishing new digital habits. It helped streamline approval workflows, secure exchanges, and involve operational teams more in day-to-day management.
This change required ongoing change management to bring teams on board and remove obstacles. One of the major challenges was adopting the new processes and the new distribution of associated tasks.
Challenges met thanks to a collaboration built on trust
Fatima-Azzahra Lemzaoui, Director at Althéa and project lead, managed the assignment with commitment, method and close support. “We had five priority objectives: meet business needs, improve payroll reliability, secure processes, ensure statutory reporting, and create a sustainable solution.”
She continues: “The relationship of trust built with Christelle Mitchell and her teams was decisive. We worked closely together to meet the challenges and adapt processes to FMM’s specificities. The involvement of the Althéa and FMM teams was remarkable. Employees showed exceptional commitment to meet the ambitious deadlines set by the project.”
Alongside strategic steering, Fatima-Azzahra also served as interim HRIS Manager, demonstrating Althéa’s integration into the day-to-day work of FMM’s teams and a partnership built on reliability.
A rewarding project for every stakeholder
Océane Cambrone, Senior Manager at Althéa dedicated to the project, played a key role in managing non-permanent profiles: “I was fortunate to work on a full-scope assignment, from requirements gathering to change management. It enabled me to develop a 360° view and build a real relationship of trust with the FMM teams.”
She worked on formalising processes, adapting Pléiades to the specificities of freelancers/intermittent workers, and supporting users. Her involvement enabled smoother adoption of the tool.
What’s next?
The project has now entered an implementation phase, enabling FMM to fully leverage the features of the Pléiades tool and unlock its full potential.
Christelle Mitchell concludes: “We still have steps to climb, but thanks to Althéa’s expertise and the teams’ commitment, we are moving in the right direction.”
At Althéa, we are proud to support private and public organisations such as France Médias Monde in their HR & HRIS transformation projects.
*These assignments reinforce our belief that a project’s success rests on a fundamental three-part foundation: expertise, on-the-ground commitment, and the human relationship.
