IT employee sues boss after mistaking his initials for lewd reference, email abbreviations for sexual advances
Gasparova additionally claimed that when Goulandris changed a file name to his initials "AJG," the acronym actually stood for "A Jumbo Genital" and that he touched her hand one day while reaching for a computer mouse. She also argued that Goulandris used "an alluring voice" to tell her to "have a nice evening," and that he "stared at her" and allegedly touched her leg under a table during an incident in November 2019.
The tribunal ruled that the 2019 incident was "innocuous" and accidental. The judge threw the case out and ruled Gasparova "skewed perception of everyday events" and "demonstrated a tendency to make extraordinary allegations without evidence," according to the BBC.
"Can you please complete the following: The solution us currently used by xx Agris companies and yy Barge lines in corn cargoes in south-north flows in the ???? waterways," Goulandris wrote in the email to Gasparova, according to the BBC, citing evidence that was heard in court. "Also, can you remind me of what the balance of the rollout will be and the approx. timing. Thanks."
The tribunal said the email was a "genuine request for information" and did not insinuate Goulandris wanted a sexual relationship.
The IT employee claimed that Goulandris’ use of "xx" in emails to her were attempts to kiss her, "yy" was code for sexual contact and "???" was coded language inquiring "when she would be ready" to engage in a sexual relationship.
Gasparova, who represented herself, pointed to an email as evidence of her claims, arguing it showed Goulandris’ alleged desire to "engage in sexual acts."
