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.