He was suspended for 20 days without pay partly for answering an information technology help line "in a robotic voice." The city Civil Service Commission upheld the suspension this month.
An administrative law judge's report says the Health Department worker told callers "you have reached the help desk" in an over-enunciated monotone. Callers complained and one even hung up, later saying she needed "to speak to a human."
The worker said at a hearing he was following a call-answering script and articulating carefully because his Brooklyn accent can be difficult to understand.
The judge called him a "disgruntled employee" acting out.
His lawyer called the suspension "exceedingly harsh."For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.