A French woman has filed a lawsuit against her employer, claiming she has been paid to do nothing for the past 20 years.
RELATED STORIES: Woman Reportedly Receives A Baked Potato As A Christmas Bonus From Her Employer
France Telecom hired Laurence Van Wassenhove as a civil servant in 1993, later becoming Orange. Upon her hiring, administrators were aware of her hemiplegic condition and epilepsy from birth and initially provided her with a role that suited her medical needs. She served in secretarial and human resources roles until 2002 and requested a transfer to another region in France. Although her transfer request was granted, her new workplace did not suit her physical needs. Orange allegedly decided not to adjust Van Wassenhove’s job responsibilities and decided to pay her salary without assigning tasks for the next 20 years.
According to La Dépêche, she made several attempts to resolve the issue by contacting government officials and the High Authority for The Fight Against Discrimination. Her legal team argued that her employer’s actions were a deliberate strategy to force her to resign. The lawsuit also accuses Orange of moral harassment and discrimination at work due to her health condition.
RELATED STORIES: IT Specialist Sues Employer For Not Giving Him A Raise During 15-Year Sick Leave
Van Wassenhove’s lawyer stated that the significance of work for people with disabilities promotes social inclusion, recognition, and social connection. Since Orange allegedly denied her that right, it was an intentional way to pressure her into leaving the job.
The company said in a statement that they tried to accommodate Van Wassenhove’s needs and ensured she worked under optimal conditions. Orange also acknowledged its continuous total salary payments and additional non-refundable aids to her. Despite the company’s plans to make the workplace more adaptable, the plans were never executed since she reportedly took frequent sick leaves.
