Are you in a Hostile Work Environment?

A hostile work environment refers to any work environment where an individual or group of employees cannot productively perform their job duties because of the harassment they face from others in the workplace. Harassment is defined as a type of workplace discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is enforced by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If you are a victim of a hostile work environment, you have the right to report it to the EEOC to have an investigation conducted of your case and if you are found to be a victim, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages related to the harassment through an employment discrimination claim.

But do you know how to recognize a hostile work environment? Harassment is not always overt – sometimes it is subtle and it takes weeks or months for an employee to realize that he or she is a victim. In other cases, harassment is casually brushed aside or downplayed as just a normal part of working in a specific company or industry. Do not allow this to happen to you – workplace harassment can have very real, very severe consequences for a victim’s career.

Are you a Victim of Constant Put-Downs?

Sometimes, colleagues and friends jokingly take jabs at each other as a way to vent. But when the jabs are only aimed at one individual and cause him or her to feel insecure or upset, they are no longer a joke. Legitimate critiques of your work performance should come from a supervisor and they should be handled in a professional manner. Attacks on your character or abilities do not belong in the workplace.

Are you Afraid to Go to Work?

Or are you afraid of having to be alone with a particular colleague or supervisor because that means you will face physical or verbal aggression? Intimidation is a form of harassment and can contribute to a hostile work environment.

Are you Subject to Offensive Material?

If you find yourself constantly facing discussions or images that contain lewd or otherwise offensive material, you could be in a hostile work environment.

Are you Facing Harassment Because of Who you Are?

This can include any racial epithets, sexist remarks, or derogatory statements about people of your ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or other part of your identity.

Work with a Winter Park Employment Attorney

You have the right to work in an environment where you do not feel threatened by those around you. If you are experiencing harassment in your workplace because of your age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or other characteristic described in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, speak with an experienced employment attorney about your right to file a claim with the EEOC. Do not suffer from ceaseless harassment simply because you need to collect a paycheck – contact our team of employment law attorneys at Hornsby Law in Winter Park today to discuss your case with us.