UNRELEASED. Laurence took risks to denounce her boss's violence: “I was scared to death”

2024-03-19T04:08:58.575Z

Highlights: Laurence took risks to denounce her boss's violence: “I was scared to death” In 2009, Laurence was employed as an administrative manager in a company. When she informs her boss that she has just gotten divorced, the man suddenly changes his behavior and makes increasingly insistent advances towards her. Laurence's repeated refusals do not stop the business manager and, worse still, make him furious. After five years of fighting, the courts awarded Laurence damages, but the mother will never be recognized as a victim of sexual harassment.

Olivier Delacroix goes to meet Laurence in the Paris region. This mother was the victim of moral and sexual harassment from her boss. She agreed to tell her story in this episode of the podcast “Dans les yeux d'Olivier” produced by Europe 1 Studio. In 2009, Laurence was employed as an administrative manager in a company. When she informs her boss that she has just gotten divorced, the man suddenly changes his behavior and makes increasingly insistent advances towards her. Very quickly, this flirting turns into touching and inappropriate words. Laurence's repeated refusals do not stop the business manager and, worse still, make him furious. A mother, Laurence cannot afford to leave her job and therefore finds herself trapped. She no longer sleeps, loses a lot of weight then gradually sinks into permanent anxiety. One day, Laurence decides to record the conversation with her boss, in order to provide evidence to the police. Accused of wanting to destabilize society, the company then fires Laurence for “serious misconduct”. At the police station, Laurence's recording does not carry much weight because it is considered an “intrusion on privacy”. In addition, very few lawyers agree to work on this type of case. Laurence finds herself alone but she approaches an association that will help her a lot: the AVFT “European Association against Violence Against Women at Work”. After five years of fighting, the courts awarded Laurence damages, but the mother will never be recognized as a victim of sexual harassment. In this episode of the podcast “Dans les yeux d'Olivier” produced by Europe 1 Studio, Laurence talks about the harassment she experienced and her fight to be able to help other women in the same situation.