French Woman Sues Telecom Firm Over ‘No Work, Full Pay’ Situation For 20 Years

Laurence Van Wassenhove, a French woman with epilepsy and partial paralysis, has filed a lawsuit against telecom giant Orange for allegedly paying her a full salary for two decades without assigning any work. Her employment saga began in 1993 when she joined France Telecom, which later became Orange after an acquisition.

Initially active in various roles within the company, including human resources and secretary positions, Van Wassenhove’s situation took an unexpected turn in 2002. After requesting a transfer to a different department that did not meet her expectations, Orange reportedly failed to provide new work assignments, effectively leaving her in limbo while continuing to pay her salary.

French Woman contends that Orange’s actions were deliberate, aiming to sideline her without formal termination. This prolonged period of paid idleness, she claims, caused immense distress and undermined her professional integrity. Despite raising concerns with government authorities and seeking mediation, she found no resolution, describing the experience as intolerable.

In her pursuit of justice, Van Wassenhove has emphasized that being paid to stay at home without meaningful work was not a privilege but a detrimental experience that wasted her time and devalued her abilities. Her legal action seeks accountability and restitution for the alleged mistreatment endured over the past two decades.