Telegraph.co.uk is reporting that Jamie Durrant is suing Microsoft for 45,000 pounds. The 38-year-old homosexual was apparently mockingly called "Fag Boy Jim," and e-mails were circulated with headings like "I'm Jim and I'm Gay," "Me and My Favorite Men" and "Ladies Are Bad." Durrant also asserts that a message about "Fag Boy Jim" was put up in the office's shared kitchen.

Durrant claims that Microsoft did not have policies to address his complaints over the harassment centered around his sexual orientation. Having been on leave for depression over the past seven months, he is demanding financial compensation for lost earnings and injury to feelings.

The issues first began in January 2008, according to Durrant. "I have never hidden my sexuality from the office and I felt this could be targeted at myself," he said in legal documentation. "This was not the first time there was homophobic content in the office. Previously, I had tried to deal with it myself. This time, I did not feel that I could."

He claims he tried to work with human resources in order to smooth the situation over, but was told that new policies needed to be drawn up. "I was very surprised that Microsoft did not have any policies relating to this sexual orientation harassment," he said.

Durrant furthermore claims that he was asked to sign documentation confirming he was happy the problem was being dealt with and that he would not raise a formal grievance. He refused, but Microsoft said they would post the anti-discrimination policy on their intranet for staff to see. Durrant felt like the HR personnel were not taking his complaint seriously, and that they were "blatantly disregarding" and "obstructing" his claim. When he was offered counseling he says, "I feel like they're making out that I'm the one with the problem and not the homophobic aspects of the company."

Taking leave because of depression in August 2008, he's been on half pay during that time. "I feel I should be compensated for the stress that this whole complaint procedure has placed on me, the amount of effort and time I have put into trying to get this resolved and acknowledgment that they have done nothing whilst the homophobic harassment continued, making my workplace uncomfortable and unpleasant," says Durrant.