This library job was not good for his reading.
A 6-foot-2, 360-pound New York Public Library employee is seeking $4.6 million to make up for the “trauma” she suffered from working at a desk that was too small.
William Martin's page-turning story began in October 2021 when he was asked to work at the first-floor service desk of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on Fifth Avenue in Midtown.
The welcome desk features a staggered countertop about 12 inches high, which a library information assistant complained in a lawsuit in Brooklyn federal court was “cramped.”
“All I wanted was a service desk with appropriate equipment that took into account my physical characteristics,” he said in a lawsuit accusing his supervisor of discrimination and harassment.
Eventually his union stepped in and helped get Martin assigned to various service desks within the library.
But almost two years later, he found himself in trouble again.
In June 2023, a new assistant director allegedly did not share Martin's views and ordered him back to work at a cramped first-floor desk, according to court documents.
Things got worse after he filed a complaint and got his lawyer involved.
Martin said in court documents that the director “significantly increased” the frequency with which he was assigned to a small desk, which “adversely impacted his health and safety.” It was the director's “way to bully and intimidate William and show him who is the boss.''
Months later, Martin was “falsely accused” of falling asleep on the job and subsequently suspended, which led to him requesting a transfer and seeking medical leave due to anxiety and depression, the lawsuit says. claims.
Mr Martin, who previously ran a sports blog called 300lbsofsportsknowledge, claims his “mental health has been severely compromised”. . . I would tremble at the thought of going back to work,” he said in the lawsuit.
Martin is asking the judge to force the library to approve the leave, along with a large amount of compensation.
A spokesperson for the New York Public Library called the lawsuit “without merit,” adding, “We take the accommodations and concerns of our employees with the utmost seriousness, and we strive to treat our staff fairly and respectfully throughout our libraries.” “I'm dedicated to handling it,” he added.
