New York and Connecticut Hostile Work Environment Lawyers

What Is Considered a Hostile Work Environment?

A hostile work environment is created when the discrimination or retaliation you are enduring is so frequent or extreme that it becomes legally actionable. 

This discrimination and harassment might include unlawful conduct based upon your:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex (and/or pregnancy)
• National origin
• Age
• Sexual orientation
• Or disability

Hostile work environments can ultimately lead to wrongful termination, or other serious deprivation of an employee’s rights in the workplace.

The Boyd Law Group’s employment lawyers are experienced at helping workers suffering under a hostile work environment those who are victims of workplace discrimination, retaliation and/or harassment.  

How to Prove a Hostile Work Environment in Connecticut

Proving a hostile work environment requires establishing a significant series of acts (or limited but severe acts) which together negatively impact an employee’s employment environment and chances for success. 

Evidence of a hostile work environment can include (but is not limited to):

• Constant offensive jokes, mockery, slurs
• Physical or verbal assaults or threats, put-downs, insults, intimidation
• Display of offensive photographs or images
• Overall interference with the targeted employee’s work performance or employment reviews

The harassment will be deemed unlawful when it is so enduring and constant that it becomes a condition of continued employment; or the conduct is deemed so “severe and pervasive” as to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider abusive, hostile or intimidating.  

The Negative Effects of a Hostile Work Environment 

A hostile work environment may keep you from being able to perform your job duties and can even make you fear for your safety.  Isolated incidents are unlikely to prove a hostile work environment unless the incident(s) are gravely serious or offensive and you should keep in mind that the standards for analysis can vary depending upon your jurisdiction.

Who Can Create a Hostile Work Environment?

Anyone in the workplace, including employees who are not supervisors, may contribute to a hostile work environment. It is a common misconception that a hostile work environment can only be created by a supervisor. 

This is not the case. Your fellow co-workers, independent contractors and your employer’s clients can also create an abusive work environment, and if your employer will not help, they may be liable.

You can reach one of our experienced hostile work environment attorneys in New York at (800) 481-1467or by filling out our form on our Contact Us page.