IT Worker Sues Boss Believing ‘xx’ In Email Was Kissing

An IT worker sued her boss for sexual harassment after she believed he used “xx”, “yy” and “????” in an email asking for more information was a coded way of asking for sex.

Karina Gasparova also claimed that when Alexander Goulandris renamed a work file with his initials ‘ajg’, it was an abbreviation for “A Jumbo Genital”.

London’s Central Court employment tribunal said Gasparova’s perception of the events was “skewed”.

His claims were rejected.

Ms. Gasparova was a project manager at the London office of essDOCS, a company that provides ‘paperless business solutions’.

He took the company to court alleging sexual harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The court heard that she believed that her superior, Mr Goulandris, was “trying to chat her up” when discussing business on work calls, and she claimed that he was staring at her.

It was also claimed that Mr. Goulandris’s email correspondence hinted at a desire to “engage in sexual acts”.

Presented as evidence, the email from Mr. Goulandris read:

“Can you please complete the following:

The solution currently used by companies xx Agris and yy Lines of barges in cargoes of corn in south-north flows in the ???? water courses

Also, can you remind me what the launch balance will be and the approx. moment.

Ms. Gasparova, who represented herself, argued that ‘xx’ referred to kissing, ‘yy’ to sexual contact and ‘????’ as a coded way of asking “when would she be ready” to engage in sexual acts.

But the court panel said it was a “genuine request for information” and did not imply any sexual nature.

Other allegations included Mr Goulandris saying “have a good night”, in what Ms Gasparova described as “a seductive voice”.

And she claimed that he deliberately touched her hand when reaching for a computer mouse.

The court said that none of the incidents were of a sexual nature and they too were dismissed.

Gasparova told the panel that Goulandris was “rich and powerful” and that “a man in his position would be too smart” to make any advance obvious.

She filed a formal complaint letter in April 2021 against Goulandris, but resigned after it was rejected, the hearing was told.

Ms Gasparova’s claims were called a “skewed perception of everyday events” by the court panel, which also said she “demonstrated a tendency to make extraordinary allegations without evidence.”

Ms Gasparova’s claims of sexual harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal were rejected and she was ordered to pay £5,000 to essDOCS.