When does hostile work environment/harassment become a legal issue?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
When does hostile work environment/harassment become a legal issue?
I am female and constantly harassed by a female co-worker. Most of the time it is verbal harassment, intimidation, but also gossiping about my pregnancy and have been physically shoved while passing in the hallway. I have reported every major incident, and numerous other incidents almost daily. These have been reported to both my direct manager and HR, but no corrective action has taken place. This person continues to harass me and in a nutshell, my working environment has become very hostile. When does this become a legal issue for my employer, because I don’t know what else to do to remedy the situation.
Asked on February 15, 2018 under Employment Labor Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
1) If you are being harassed over your pregnancy, that may be sex-based harassment (even if done by a female coworker): since only women can be pregnant, prenancy-based harassment or discrimination is generally considered anti-women harassment or discrimination. If management has been made aware of it but refuses to take action, their inaction can make the employer liable. You may have a claim for sex-based discrimination, and may wish to contact the federal EEOC or your state's equal/civil rights agency.
2) Shoving you can be assault: you may wish to consider filing a police report and looking to press charges against this coworker.
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.