Laurence Van Wassenhove sued Orange in 2024.
In 2002, the woman had requested a transfer to another region of France, some time after the company changed her position to give her a permanent office job, with the aim of not affecting her health.
At the time, the company doctor considered the position she was requesting unsuitable, since the woman had epilepsy and hemiplegia (paralysis affecting one side of the body). Even so, the company could not find a solution that worked for both parties, and kept her employed without assigning her any new duties- So, since around 2004, Laurence continued to receive her salary without a desk, colleagues, or tasks.
For this reason, in 2024 she filed a lawsuit against the company for psychological harassment and discrimination: she argues that the isolation affected her mental health and led her to depression. She turned down disability retirement because she wanted to keep working.
Orange says it tried to accommodate her situation, but that her recurring medical leaves made it difficult for her to return. “Being paid and not working is not a privilege. It is difficult to endure”, Van Wassenhove said.
Now, the woman, who has been involved in the legal proceedings for more than 2 years, still has not received a ruling on the matter. What would you have done in her place?
