What is considered harassment at work?
Business Law Attorney
Hostile work environment is a type of unlawful harassment that happens when unwelcome conduct is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with an employee’s ability to do their job.
To prompt a hostile work environment claim, offensive comments or conduct must relate to a characteristic protected under federal or state law. Federal antidiscrimination laws prohibit harassment based on several characteristics, including sex, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, age (40 and older) and citizenship status. Many states have their own antidiscrimination laws, barring discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status or other characteristics. Bullying or other mistreatment unrelated to a protected trait does not give rise to a hostile work environment claim.
