Sun Nov 24 09:46:44 UTC 2024: ## Library Worker Sues for $4.6 Million Over “Too Small” Desk

**New York, NY** – A New York Public Library employee is suing the institution for $4.6 million, claiming a cramped service desk caused him significant physical and emotional distress. William Martin, a 163kg (360lb) library information assistant, alleges that the desk at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on Fifth Avenue was inadequately sized for his frame, leading to injuries and mental health issues.

Martin’s lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, describes the desk as having a swaying countertop with a concerning 12-inch drop. He claims that despite raising concerns and being temporarily reassigned, he was later returned to the same desk in June 2023, a decision he says was deliberately meant to intimidate him. The lawsuit alleges that increased work assignments at the problematic desk further exacerbated his physical discomfort.

Following a subsequent accusation of sleeping on the job – a claim Martin denies – he was suspended. This led to a request for a transfer and medical leave due to anxiety and depression. Martin, who previously maintained a blog titled “300lbsofsportsknowledge,” now says he trembles at the thought of returning to work and is unable to function in his role due to the emotional toll.

The lawsuit demands that the library grant Martin’s leave request and pay the substantial compensation. A spokesperson for the New York Public Library has dismissed the lawsuit as “without merit,” stating that the library takes employee concerns seriously and is committed to fair treatment. The case is currently ongoing.

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