Laurence Van Wassenhove, a civil servant employed by France-Télécom since 1993 and later under its successor Orange, has filed a lawsuit against her company, claiming harassment and discrimination. Initially hired and then offered a secretarial role to accommodate her health conditions, including epilepsy and hemiplegia, Van Wassenhove faced significant personal challenges, including financial instability and caring for a child with autism.
Despite being fully compensated, Van Wassenhove was sidelined from work since 2004 following an occupational medicine report that deemed her unsuitable for her position. She remained on the payroll without being assigned any duties, a situation she described as painfully isolating. “Being paid, at home, not working is not a privilege. It’s very hard to bear,” Van Wassenhove stated, highlighting the psychological impact of her exclusion.
Her plight led to a complaint filed in 2015 with the High Authority for the Fight Against Discrimination, after which a mediator was appointed by Orange. However, the efforts brought little change to her situation. Orange insists it has made considerable efforts to facilitate her employment under accommodating conditions, but continuous health-related absences hindered these plans.
