What can I do about a manager at work who creates a hostile work environment for me?.
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What can I do about a manager at work who creates a hostile work environment for me?.
In the past he has been verbally abusive. After a recent complaint I filed against him I was told that if he needed to communicate with me it would go through my boss. Just recently in a meeting, this manager forced me to tell 20 co-workers why I was medically unable to share the responsibility of taking on a new task. I currently receive accommodations due to chronic illness/disability and he is well aware of it. Other co-workers expressed their unhappiness with my ability to help after he publically singled me out. I have worked there 10 years with no issues until now.
Asked on June 29, 2015 under Employment Labor Law, Michigan
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
As a general matter, a manager can be as hostile as he likes to employees; that, among other things, is part of what "employment at will" effectively means. But there are exceptions: a manager may NOT harass, discriminate against, or take other negative action against an employee due to his or her disability; the behavior you describe, publically "shaming" you over your medcial condition or disability, may well constitute just such illegal, disabaility-based discrimination. You are advised to contact either the federal EEOC or your state equal rights/civil rights agency and file a complaint on this basis, and/or to discuss the matter in detail with an employment law attorney--you may have a valid legal claim. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.