Hostile Work Environment

     One of the most common thing I hear from potential clients is that they work in a "hostile work environment."  However, in order for there to be a "hostile work environment," the harassment essentially must be "married" to a someone who falls under a protected class, such as ADEA, ADA, or Title VII.

     What rises to the level of creating a hostile work environment?  Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents (unless extreme) do not rise to a level of illegality.  For the conduct to rise to the level of illegality, it must create a work environment that would be intimidating, hostile, or offensive to reasonable people.

     Offensive conduct may include jokes, slurs, epithets or name-calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidating, mockery or ridicule, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.

     However, you must remember, in order for an environment to be considered a "hostile work environment," you, as the abused, must fall under one of the protected classes of people.

If you are the victim of a hostile work environment, please contact Ambuter Law.