Systemax facing 'baseless' sexual discrimination lawsuit

Former exec claims reseller giant discriminated against women as she launches civil rights lawsuit

Systemax has described as "baseless" allegations made by a former employee who has reportedly launched a civil lawsuit against the reseller giant over alleged sexual discrimination.

According to a report by Newsday on Monday, Danielle Markou, former vice president of risk management at Systemax, filed the complaint in federal court "last week". Newsday said Markou claimed she was wrongfully terminated after five years at the vendor in 2013 for being pregnant.

According to Markou, Systemax also paid her less than her male counterparts and gave her department fewer resources than other departments with male heads, the Long Island newspaper added.

In addition, Systemax ignored Markou's concerns regarding the safety of products, the complaint said, adding that her superiors made rude sexual jokes about her, Newsday reported.

According to Newsday, Michel Smargiassi, Systemax company spokesman, said the company's officials "categorically deny her claims", however.

"The company takes safety and gender equality very seriously and has adequate controls in place," Smargiassi said according to Newsday. "We look forward to defending ourselves against these baseless allegations in court."

The civil lawsuit marks another day in court for the vendor. In March of this year, a U.S. district judge gave Carl Fiorentino, formerly president of Systemax subsidiary TigerDirect, a six-year jail term, and brother Gilbert Fiorentino, former CEO of Systemax's Technology Product Group, a five-year sentence, for accepting millions of dollars worth of bribes and kickbacks.