About a year ago, she had a severe fall after working hours, broke her leg and required surgery. She needed a long period of rehabilitation and was unable to work. At the beginning of June this year, she requested to return to work with certain restrictions as determined by an occupational doctor. The employer refused and in response summoned her to a hearing.
The employee approached us on June 11, before the hearing which was scheduled for June 12. She sought advice and wanted to understand her rights in this situation. We provided her with consultation. We explained to her that according to the law, it is forbidden to discriminate against a person based on national or religious origin, or due to disabilities. Her employer is obligated to reinstate her and find work that accommodates her disabilities. On June 16 she consulted MAAN again because the employers had not taken decision yet, and it was decided to wait.
On June 30, the management finally decided to allow her to return to work, while considering her medical restrictions. However, the decision letter was phrased in a concerning manner, implying that the employee was “problematic” and refused to do her job. This was in contradiction to the way the employee presented the case, complaining about violations by the employer towards her throughout her employment period. We were concerned that this letter was preparing the ground for her dismissal. We debated whether to contact the employer at this stage to ensure no violation of rights, but ultimately decided to wait and see what happens. Indeed, the employee returned to work on July 1, working from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and so far, everything is fine, and she continues to earn a living there.
On July 24, Suzanne said to MAAN: “I am very happy because I have returned to work and was able to overcome the crisis I went through when I was at home without work. Through my communication with MAAN, I was able to learn about my legal rights at work, and participated in other workshops conducted by MAAN. These workshops are important for women who want to be aware of their rights at work. I really thank MAAN for its diligent and important work.”
MAAN’s Dana Pomeranz: “The implications of the success story are more far-reaching than just enabling her to continue to earn a living. Suzanne also became more interested in learning her rights and enjoys being connected to other MAAN women. She joined the new WhatsApp group of MAAN Women, and participated in our workshop to learn about rights with the National Insurance Institute. That is very encouraging.”
