I have used this query
g.V().has('empId','123').as('a').V().has('deptId','567').addE('worksAt').properties('startedOn','17/15/07','title','manager','pay',15000)
which doesn't work.
Adding a single property works with a .property
step
g.V().has('empId','123').as('a').V().has('deptId','567').addE('worksAt').property('startedOn','17/15/07')