Rogue IT help desk staffer in strife for using robot voice

IT’S a pain in the neck for office workers the world over: having to call IT. Ronaldo Dillon makes it that little bit more tortuous.

IT’S a pain in the neck for office workers the world over: having to call the IT help desk. Ronaldo Dillon makes it that little bit more tortuous.

Dillon, who works at New York City’s Health Department IT help desk, faces suspension yet again for impersonating a machine while fielding calls.

Dillon, who was slapped with a 20-day suspension last year for his robotic rebellion, could get a 30-day unpaid suspension for purposely misdirecting callers, failing to respond to his boss and answering the phone in a robotic voice, under a ruling by an administrative court judge.

His signature, computer-inflected reply to incoming calls — “You-have-reached-the-Help-Desk. This-is-Mr.-Dillon. How-may-I help-you?” — prompted supervisors to demand he cease and desist his “unacceptable and unprofessional” phone manner.

But to no avail.

The Health Department, which wanted Dillon fired for insubordination, still hasn’t decided whether to accept the court’s suspension recommendation, which was issued two weeks ago.

“Despite his long tenure, if respondent’s insubordination persists, it could lead to his eventual termination from his employment,” warned Administrative Law Judge Ingrid Addison.

Dillon, 67, has argued in the past that his protocol-droid persona is simply his way of counteracting a thick Brooklyn accent, which he’s described as “difficult to understand.”

His conflict with the Health Department — where he’s worked since 1976 — began in 2009 after his responsibilities changed from handling computer emergencies to more technical software issues, which he claimed he was not as qualified to handle.

According to court records, he lodged a grievance and lost.

In 2012, after being assigned to the Help Desk, Dillon requested a transfer but was denied.

One on the job at the IT help desk, one supervisor accused him of “causing callers to be annoyed and irritated” and erroneously classifying incoming calls. Dillon described the agency’s inquiries as “a fishing expedition.”

He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The Health Department declined comment.