HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Important federal and state regulations, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protect employees from specific workplace issues, such as harassment. The law defines a hostile work environment as one where discriminatory conditions in the workplace make it uncomfortable, difficult, or even impossible for someone to remain working in that situation. When you are faced with a hostile work environment, it’s crucial to contact a Cincinnati hostile work environment attorney.
At Coffman Legal, our legal team is committed to protecting the rights of all workers in Ohio. If you feel your working environment has turned hostile, don’t wait another day to contact our office for assistance. You can schedule a free, no-obligation confidential review of your case with our office. Once we review your situation, we will advise you on the best legal course of action.
If you are contemplating filing a hostile work environment claim in Cincinnati, you need to understand what is and what isn’t a hostile work environment under the law. Unfortunately, the presence of hostility alone doesn’t mean you have a valid claim against your employer. If your boss is rude, mean, or otherwise hostile toward you, it’s not necessarily enough to file a claim. Hostile work environment claims are based on legally protected characteristics. Under the law, you could have a legal claim for a hostile work environment based on pervasive and severe harassment because of your: Gender Religion Disability Race Color Age National origin Pregnancy LGBT status Military status If you have experienced any hostility at work due to the aforementioned protected factors, you should immediately contact our office to discuss your case. There is a good chance your legal rights were violated. You need an experienced Cincinnati hostile work environment attorney to review your claim.
Even if you establish unfair treatment based on one of the protected statuses listed above, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s a hostile work environment either. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) notes that slight annoyances, minor slights, and mild one-time incidents do not rise to the level of being against the law. To successfully bring a hostile work environment claim, you need to show evidence that you were subjected to a situation that the average person would find “intimidating, hostile, or offensive.” It’s a relatively vague standard, so courts look at whether it was “severe” or “pervasive.” Each situation is different, which is why it requires review. For example, a one-time incident could be egregious enough to show it’s a hostile work environment, whereas another situation with repetitive minor transgressions may demonstrate a hostile work environment. Every case is different and should be looked at independently, which is why it’s so important to have a skilled legal advocate on your side.
All employees deserve to work in an environment that free from hostility, discrimination, and harassment. If your workplace is not, our Cincinnati hostile work environment attorneys are here to help. Contact Coffman Legal today to schedule an initial consultation.