The lives of people with disabilities are hard as it is. On top of that, they are often subjected to isolation, discrimination and lack of accommodation in various other spheres of their lives, like educational institutions and workplaces. Such things cause mental harassment, that is often disregarded, hindering them from performing their duties effectively and feeling as though they are a part of a team.
In an unusual legal case, a French woman named Laurence Van Wassenhove sued the telecommunications company Orange for paying her full salary without assigning her any work for over 20 years, reported Deccan Herald.
Laurence, who has partial paralysis and epilepsy, began working for Orange’s predecessor, France Telecom, in 1993. She held various suitable roles, such as secretary and HR, until she requested a transfer in 2002 due to her disability.
According to her lawyer, although her transfer was approved, the new workplace was not adapted to meet her needs. Instead of finding suitable alternatives, Orange allegedly stopped giving her any tasks. Her lawyer argued that this failure to provide proper accommodations left Laurence in a state of “professional limbo”.
Orange has denied any discrimination, stating that they considered Laurence’s medical condition and explored options for her return in an adapted position. The company also claimed that her frequent sick leaves made it difficult to implement these plans.
Despite this, Laurence continued to receive her salary for two decades without any work assignments. She claimed this situation led to “moral harassment,” as being paid without tasks made her feel isolated.
This case highlights the importance of proper accommodations and support for disabled employees to ensure they feel valued and included in the workplace. Companies across the world must take necessary steps to make themselves an inclusive space and provide adequate support to people with disabilities.