Hostile Work Environment Examples
Los Angeles Hostile Work Environment Lawyer Can Help You File A Harassment Claim
Though harassers and others may see some harassment at work as harmless, this act can cause overwhelming damage to victims. Studies link harassment—particularly sexual harassment—to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep problems as well as many more harmful reactions. This harassing behavior can even cause a hostile workplace that demoralizes victims and then discourages them from asserting themselves.
Our Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyers want to help workers who find themselves dealing with this stressful situation. The employment attorneys at our law firm first start by identifying acts of workplace harassment you experienced. We then explain the hostile work environment laws that may apply. From there, we can then help you determine if pursuing a hostile workplace lawsuit is the best course of action. With over 100 years of combined employment law experience and several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients, our harassment lawyers have the qualifications you need to seek losses resulting from hostile work environments.
Do I Have a Hostile Work Environment Case?
Unfortunately, not all harassment at work is illegal under city, state or federal employment laws. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), petty slights, annoyances and isolated incidents are not illegal unless the isolated incident is especially hostile. So, what is hostile? The EEOC offers a definition of hostile work environment as harassment that establishes a work environment a reasonable person would view as intimidating, hostile or offensive. Learn more about how the law defines what is a hostile workplace here.
According to the EEOC, harassment that causes a hostile work environment must violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for the employee to have a harassment claim. Harassment based on protected characteristics under discrimination laws include racial harassment, sexual harassment (including pregnancy harassment, same-gender and gender identity harassment), religious harassment, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information or disability harassment.
Types of Offensive Behavior in Hostile Work Environment Cases
Offensive behavior that may contribute to a hostile work environment can include, but is not limited to the following:
- Offensive jokes
- Slurs
- Epithets or name-calling
- Physical assaults or threats
- Intimidation
- Ridicule
- Insults
- Offensive objects or pictures
- Interference with work performance
Discrimination and offensive behavior can create a hostile work environment. We believe victims of harassment have the right to safe and comfortable work environments, free of any type of abuse.
A victim of workplace harassment may have the right to file a hostile workplace lawsuit against the offender. The employer may also be at fault for allowing the job harassment to occur. You do not need to be the target of the harassment to file a claim. Instead, anyone can be affected by offensive conduct. Filing a lawsuit for harassment can ensure that there is punishment. This then encourages employers to make greater efforts to prevent hostile work environments for employees in the future. Our harassment lawyers have helped hundreds of California workers uphold their workplace rights, which has helped create safer workplaces for all.
Fired After Filing a Hostile Work Environment Lawsuit?
Employment and harassment laws also protect an individual who files or participates in a discrimination charge or opposes practices that he or she feels are illegal. All employees have rights that protect them from workplace retaliation or wrongful termination when filing hostile workplace lawsuits or other legal actions. Our wrongful termination lawyers explain how employment laws protect your workplace rights after filing a claim.
What Do You Do If Your Work Environment is Hostile?
Are you a victim of workplace harassment or sexual harassment at work? If so, then you should first ask the offender to stop. If this does not remedy the issue, then speak with your employer about the harassment. You need to know what harassment policies are in place to handle hostile workplace environments. Next, begin keeping a record of the hostile workplace events and your responses to them. Hostile work environment claims that show a pattern of workplace harassment or hostile behavior are often the most successful. If bringing the matter to the attention of your employer or boss does not address the issue, then consider speaking with a hostile workplace employment lawyer. He or she can then guide you in what your next steps must be.
We know proving harassment at work has caused a hostile work environment can be difficult. Our Los Angeles employment attorneys have worked for many years to aid victims of hostile work environments and to enforce their workplace rights. We can and want to help if your employer has failed to remedy a hostile workplace or if you need then assistance reporting a hostile work environment to your boss. Please contact a Los Angeles hostile work environment lawyer at our law firm today. You can call us at to set up a free consultation.
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