What acts create a hostile work environment?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What acts create a hostile work environment?

We have an owner that constantly verbally assaults my employees and I. He curses and shakes his finger in our faces daily. He states he’ll “fucking fire” people that do what the other owners tell them to do. He also threatens past employees that they will not work in this field again in CO. Approximately 27/30 employees have left since my start 11 months ago. A few disgruntled employees threatened this man’s life after quitting, which has made our workplace even more intimidating. I have kept record of the worst instances and have several willing witnesses and videotape.

Asked on August 22, 2011 Colorado

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

There is no general law against creating a hostile work environment; an employer may be as hostile as he or she wants. So long as the employer is not--

1) Violating the terms of an employment agreement

2) Discriminating against or harassing employees on the basis of their race, sex, religion, disability, age over 40, etc.

3) Retaliated against employees for bringing a protected complaint (e.g. overtime complaint; discrimination complaint) or using a protected benefit (e.g. FMLA lease)

--the employer may verbally assault, curse at, finger shake at, threaten the jobs of, etc. his employees as much as he  likes. He may also threaten to make it difficult for past employees to work in the field. The law does not prevent awful people from acting awfully, except in limited, narrowly defined ways.


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.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption