French Woman Paid for 20 Years Without Work Sues Employer – Full Story Explained

This news feels very unusual — it’s the first time I have come across such a story. In reality, the company continued paying her salary mainly because of her health condition. But instead of being thankful, she raised a question to her employer: “Why are you paying me without giving me any work?” She felt that if she was capable of working, she should have been given proper tasks. But due to her health issues, she could not actually perform any work. Beyond this, there is really nothing more to add.

Woman Paid for 20 Years Without Work – Why She Took Her Company to Court

Most people dream of getting a salary without having to do any work. But for one woman in France, this became a nightmare that lasted nearly 20 years. Her unusual story has now reached the courtroom, where she is fighting against her former employer, Orange (formerly known as France Télécom).

Paid Salary Without Work

The woman, named Laurence Van Wassenhove, joined France Télécom years ago. In the early 2000s, she developed serious health problems such as epilepsy and partial paralysis. Because of her condition, the company did not assign her any active tasks. She was kept on “standby” mode, officially still an employee but with no real duties.

Even though she had no work, Laurence continued to receive her full monthly salary for almost two decades. On the outside, this may sound like a dream situation — getting paid for doing nothing. But for her, it became the opposite: a life full of loneliness and frustration.

Why She Sued the Company

Laurence says her experience was not a privilege, but a punishment. Here’s why she finally took the matter to court:

1. Isolation at Workplace – She felt excluded and ignored by her colleagues. With no real tasks, she had no sense of belonging in the company.
2. Loss of Dignity – For most people, work gives a sense of purpose and respect. Without tasks, she felt useless and treated like an “outcast secretary.”
3. Mental Health Issues – The long years of doing nothing led to severe depression. She says being paid without work damaged her emotionally more than being unemployed.
4. Discrimination – Her lawyer argues that the company failed to provide her with meaningful work or suitable roles based on her health condition. Instead, they pushed her aside and left her without responsibilities.

For these reasons, she filed a lawsuit, accusing Orange of moral harassment and discrimination.

Company’s Side of the Story

The company, on the other hand, has a very different view. Orange says they tried to help her and offered different roles over the years. But her frequent sick leaves made it difficult to place her in an active position. From their perspective, paying her salary for 20 years without asking for work was already a big form of support.

 

The Bigger Question: Money or Respect?

This case raises an important life question: Is money alone enough to make a person happy?

For Laurence, the answer is no. She says:

• Salary without respect is meaningless.
• Work is not just about money — it is about being part of a team, contributing something useful, and being recognized for it.
• Being excluded slowly destroyed her self-confidence and mental health.

This is why she believes her company’s actions were unfair and why she is now seeking justice through the court.

Lessons from the Story

• Work gives purpose – Just earning money is not enough. People need to feel valued.
• Disability rights matter – Companies should give meaningful roles to employees with health problems, not just leave them aside.
• Mental health is important – Ignoring an employee can cause as much damage as overworking them.

 

Source- Times of India