Woman Sues Employer After 20 Years of Full Pay Without Work, Says 10 Years of Isolation Was “Hell”

Laurence Van Wassenhove is a 59-year-old French woman who has taken her employer to court, calling for justice. She says she was paid for 20 years without any work being assigned to her. While this sounds like a great deal, it, in fact, was very damaging to her mental health.

Laurence started at France Telecom in 1993 as a human relations specialist. She entered with great expectations for her career path. But because of health problems that limited her work ability-she suffered from epilepsy and hemiplegia-she was then downgraded to a secretarial position. Accommodation was made at her workplace to cater to her medical condition.

In 2002, the company was taken over by another company called Orange. After the takeover of France Telecom by Orange, Laurence wanted to be transferred to another regional office within the company. The company accepted the request. But, coming to the year 2004, occupational health declared her to be unfit for the new position, hence first putting her on standby.

Laurence claims she was given no work when this decision was made. She alleges that she was put into a professional limbo with no assignments, no desk, and no contacts with colleagues. Speaking to French broadcaster FTV, she said, “I was paid, yes, but I was treated like I didn’t exist.”

She asserts that she was told to stay at home for 10 years. Her days found her deprived of daily work assignments while an office environment were too much for her to bear feeling lonely. Laurence says that she started experiencing profound emotional distress that later turned into major depression.

The feelings of alienation grew in time, she said. “Being paid, at home, not working is not a privilege. It’s really hard to bear,” she told the French news portal Mediapart. She felt separated from society and deprived of the dignity of work.

In 2015, Laurence decided to do something. She brought complaints before the French anti-discrimination bodies, hoping that some form of mediation would enable her to resume her working life. She feels that nothing ever came from it.

According to Laurence’s attorney David Nabet-Martin, this case goes far beyond monetary settlement. “Work, for a person with a disability, means having a place in society. Recognition. Social connections that are created,” he said. He claims Orange has entered into a discriminatory phase against her from 2004 and may also have been trying to push her into resignation.

Orange disputes her version of events. The company states that all measures were taken to provide her with suitable working conditions in light of her health needs. A spokesperson went on to say that a plan for her return came under discussion in an adapted role but was never implemented because she was most often on sick leave.

Laurence vehemently denies having blocked her own return to work. She asserts that she wanted to work but was denied tasks and positions that suited her capabilities repeatedly. She believes the company deliberately left her without work so she could be pushed out.

The emotional toll of her situation, Laurence says, has been immense; she claims that the isolation destroyed her confidence and sense of purpose apart from the fact that her physical health has deteriorated over time.

Her claim, now on the path of being judged by the French courts, will push the boundaries of what the labor law covers in cases of long-term employment without duties. According to the experts, the case brings to the center stage some important questions relating to an employer’s obligation to provide meaningful work, especially to employees with disabilities.

Laurence’s case has triggered a social debate in France. Some see her as a victim of discrimination and neglect on the basis of workplace harassment; others question why she did not simply leave earlier if conditions were so dreadful.

Her lawyer contended that it was simply not realistic to leave. “She had a permanent contract. She also needed the income to support herself and her children. Quitting would have meant financial disaster,” said Nabet-Martin.

This has not been the first time Orange has faced criticism regarding the treatment of employees. The company was previously subjected to a probe for workplace harassment in unrelated matters. However, it says that it has since changed the policies to better protect the well-being of staff.

For Laurence, winning her lawsuit is as much about recognition as it is about justice, with hopes that the court will acknowledge that long-term inactivity could be detrimental to mental health and a career.

As the legal process unfolds, the case continues to draw attention from labor rights groups and disability advocates. Many see it as a warning to employers that sidelining staff for years, even while paying them, can cause lasting harm.

The hearing is expected to take place later this year. Both sides are preparing to present evidence about what happened between 2004 and 2024. The decision could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.

Sources: SCMP.COM, THESUN.CO.UK, DAILYMAIL.CO.UK