Workplace harassment

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Workplace harassment

I was recently fired from my position of 10 years. I know my state is a no fault state but do not want to think another employee will have to go through what I did without any repercussions to either the company or the manager. For the last 3 years, I was constantly harassed by our store manager and worked in a hostile work environment. I have a long list of instances with this person. I was also told by our general manager that what the store manager was doing was his right and that I was to concede to all of the store managers request without question. I was belittled in front of other employees and they and the other supervisors did not understand why I was being harassed other than I was told that what the manager said was not to be questioned.

Asked on March 12, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Indiana

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

There is a legal remedy for having to work in a "hostile workplace environment". This comes into play when the conditions of the workplace prevent an employee from performing the duties of their job in a reasonable manner. In such a case, a boss and/or co-worker creates an environment that is counterproductive for an employee to effectively function due to that boss's or co-worker's behavior, actions, or both. That having been said, these behaviors must be legally discriminatory. In other words, your treatment must be based on your inclusion in what is known as a "protected class". This means that your treatment must be due to your nationality, gender, disability, age, gender, and in some states, sexual orientation. Otherwise, while such behavior is unprofessional, it is not legally actionable.
As for your termination, t fact is that most work relationships are "at will". This mean that an employer can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit. Accordingly, an employee can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. That is unless an employee;s dimissal violates the terms of a union agreement or employment contract.

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Unfortunately, your manager *does* have a legal right to belittle you or harass you, and your workplace may legally be hostile. Employment is employment at will; that doctrine has many consequences, but the most basic one is that an employee has no right to a job and an employer may treat the employee any way they want. The employer can also put unreasonable restrictions on you, like to not speak to other employees. Another basic consequence of employment at will is that in the absence of a written employment contract to the contrary, you may be terminated at any time, for any reason, even when you did nothing wrong.
There are managers who are unprofessional and downright awful, and there are workplaces which are toxic, and your only recourse is to seek different employment.


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.

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