L.I. boss hit with harass complaint

The owner of a Long Island transportation and distribution company went way too far with his office manager, pressuring her for sex, crashing her birthday party and firing her when she didn’t come around, according to a new federal discrimination complaint.

For nearly three years, the 40-year-old woman had to endure her married boss’ come ons, latenight phone calls and unwanted touching, despite her repeated rejections, the complaint said.

Instead of changing his behavior, company owner Joseph Sarcona fired her, but not before asking her to sign a nondisclosure agreement to keep her quiet about his behavior, the complaint said.

The Long Island woman said she started working at Sarcona’s JJS Transportation & Distribution Co. in October 2018. Except for several months last year when she was working home because of the coronavirus pandemic, she said she had to put up with a hostile work environment. And even during that period, Sarcona would call and FaceTime her at home, the complaint says.

“You’re my soulmate. Where have you been all my life?” Sarcona asked her once, according to the document.

“I like your heels today. You’re an absolute smoke show,” he allegedly said another time.

On March 13, 2020, just before shutting down for the pandemic, the woman said her boss called her into his office and shut the door behind her. He grabbed her hands as they sat together on his couch.

“Do you want to be with me?” he asked, according to the complaint.

“No,” she responded. “Why would you ask such a question, I have given you no indication that I am interested in you. And you are married. What are you doing?”

She said he remained persistent, even when his wife showed up to his office. The office manager and Sarcona were outside in front of the office when his wife pulled up, and he sent her back inside, according to the complaint.

Weeks later, he crashed her birthday party and even got insulted when she awkwardly introduced him as her “boss” and not her “friend.”

The woman also accused Sarcona of sending a Nassau County police officer to her home to spy on her.

Sarcona did not respond to a request for comment.

On May 10, 2021, Sarcona asked her to sign a nondisclosure agreement, the complaint said. A week later, he fired her.