Worker sues boss for 'xx' in email, believes it was kisses

Read more: Man on sick leave for 15 years sues company for no pay raise

In general, there are moments where we can misread a situation or an individual and what they say. Miscommunication or misinterpretation has been known to cause riots and wars in the past. 

So, we can understand how someone can misread a whole email. 

One woman who received an email from her boss, took things to the next level when she believed that he was trying to ask her for a sexual relationship. 

IT worker Karina Gasparova sued her boss for sexual harassment after she believed that his use of "xx", "yy", and "????" in an email was his coded way of implying sexual relations with her. 

"She took the firm to the tribunal claiming sexual harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal. The tribunal heard she believed her superior, Mr Goulandris, was "trying to chat her up" when discussing business on work calls, and claimed he would stare at her." (BBC)

We are by no means taking sides here, but sometimes it can be easy to misread a situation. The human brain is a complex organ and can stimulate things into existence. 

Here's one of the emails entered into evidence during the court proceedings, as per BBC News: 

"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.

Also, can you remind me of what the balance of the rollout will be and the approx. timing.

Thanks" 

Ms Gasparova represented herself in court and shared that there was a hidden meaning behind the use of 'xx', 'yy', and '????'. She argued that "'xx' referred to kisses, 'yy' to sexual contact and '????' as a coded way of asking "when she would be ready" to engage in sexual acts." (BBC)

Her claims were rejected by the court and she was ordered to pay £5,000 (R120,992) back to her company. 

Goes to show, sometimes it pays to ask someone else for their opinion on the matter. Or at the very least, remove your rose-coloured glasses. 

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