A woman has taken action against a company for giving her no work, despite being paid in full during the entire time.
Laurence Van Wassenhove has filed against her former employer, France-Télécom, which later became Orange Mobile, for harassment and discrimination.
The 55-year-old claims that while she was compensated during the period, the lack of work left her feeling isolated and excluded, and this led to severe mental health struggles.
Van Wassenhove, who suffers from epilepsy and hemiplegia, a condition that causes paralysis on one side of her body, was initially employed as a civil servant at the company.
Due to her health conditions, she was reassigned to a secretary role to accommodate her needs. However, following the company's 2002 reorganization, her troubles began when she requested a transfer to another region of France.
An occupational medicine report confirmed that the position was no longer suitable for her, and she was placed on standby, later put on sick leave, and eventually offered retirement due to her disability.
Despite being removed from work, Van Wassenhove was still paid her full salary, a situation she describes as "very hard to bear," cited by The Sun. "I feel like an outcast secretary," she added.
The ex-employee, who is also a mother of two, one of whom is autistic, claims that despite her salary, she faced eviction notices and struggled financially, as her family’s needs were not fully met.
In 2015, after lodging a complaint with the government and the High Authority for the Fight against Discrimination, Van Wassenhove alleges that the situation remained unchanged.
A mediator was appointed by Orange, but little progress was made in improving her work conditions.
Van Wassenhove’s lawyer, David Nabet-Martin, argues that the prolonged inactivity led to depression, emphasizing that for a person with a disability, work is essential for social recognition and maintaining a sense of belonging.
"Work, for a person with a disability, means having a place in society. Recognition. Social connections that are created," Nabet-Martin explained.
In response to the lawsuit, Orange issued a statement to French outlet La Dépêche, claiming that they had taken Van Wassenhove's "personal social situation" into account and ensured she was placed in the best possible conditions.
The company also mentioned plans for her return to work in an adapted role, but these plans never came to fruition due to her frequent sick leave.