Woman Sues Employer After Getting Paid For 20 Years Without Being Given A Job

A woman has taken legal action against her employer after claiming she was paid for years without ever being assigned any tasks.

While this might sound like a dream situation to some, for Laurence Van Wassenhove, it turned into a long and painful experience that left her feeling invisible.

Last year, the now 59-year-old filed a lawsuit against her employer, Orange — a telecom company — for what she described as 'forced inactivity' and for being made to feel like she didn’t matter in the workplace for more than two decades.

Van Wassenhove joined the company back in 1993, when it was still known as France Télécom. At some point during her employment, she developed epilepsy and hemiplegia—a condition that causes one side of the body to become paralyzed. This made it impossible for her to continue in her original role.

Due to her qualifications in HR, she was transferred into a secretarial position. It was meant to be a more accommodating role that fit her abilities better.

But according to her, this adjustment soon spiraled into a long period of complete standstill —  where she had a job title but no actual responsibilities.

Wassenhove said she felt like an outsider dragana991 / Getty

In 2002, Van Wassenhove asked to be transferred to another area of France. However, an occupational health exam later concluded she was unfit for the new role. As a result, she was placed on standby status instead of being transferred.

She told FTV that the following years left her feeling like an 'outcast secretary' and took a toll on her mental well-being.

"I was paid, yes, but I was treated like I didn't exist." she said in an interview with Mediapart.

Does working a job without doing a work sound ideal? Think again Westend61 / Getty Images

Van Wassenhove said that even after she filed a formal complaint in 2015 with both the government and France’s High Authority for the Fight against Discrimination, very little changed in her day-to-day situation.

"Being paid, at home, not working is not a privilege. It's very hard to bear." she explained, reflecting on the toll that years of idleness took on her.

Her lawyer, David Nabet-Martin, stated that the extended isolation contributed to serious mental health struggles, including depression. He argued that she had essentially been shut out of society, particularly as a person living with a disability.

Thinking this kind of job sounds like a good deal? You might want to think again before jumping to conclusions.

Orange, the company in question, responded to the lawsuit through a statement shared with La Dépêche. They said they had always taken her “personal social situation” into consideration and had done their best to ensure she remained in suitable conditions based on her health needs.

The telecom provider also added that they had plans for her to return to work in a new position. However, they claimed that it didn’t work out because she was frequently on medical leave.