A British Library worker has won £7,500 in compensation after successfully suing her employer for failing to provide a quiet working environment.
Lidia Kogut, 45, took legal action against the historic London institution, arguing that the noise levels in her workplace prevented her from working effectively.
She claimed that the library failed to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate her needs, as required under the Equality Act.
An employment tribunal ruled in her favour last month, finding that the British Library did not offer her a quieter workstation or relocate her to a suitable alternative role.
Employment Judge Richard Nicolle stated that the library failed to make reasonable adjustments, either by providing a quieter workspace or temporarily moving her to a quiet office until a more permanent solution was found.
The British Library attempted to have the case dismissed in May 2023, but this request was rejected by a separate tribunal.
Kogut was awarded:
£1,350.20 for a salary reduction between September and November 2022
£5,000 for injury to feelings, with interest bringing the total to £6,204.38
Other claims she lodged were dismissed by the court.
As one of the world’s largest and most prestigious libraries, the British Library holds over 200 million items in its collection. In 2023 alone, nearly 1.4 million visitors – including academics, authors, and students – passed through its doors, representing a 23% increase from the previous year.
The institution has faced challenges in recent months, including a major cyberattack in 2023, which crippled online services, prevented staff from logging into systems, and disrupted card payments in the library’s gift shop.
The British Library declined to comment on the tribunal’s ruling.
