Hostile Work Environment Attorney
Over a lifetime, the average adult in the workforce will spend roughly 90,000 hours at a place of employment–almost 25% of their waking life. More and more people are entering the workforce than ever before. It’s important that places of employment offer a safe and healthy workplace, free from intimidation, discrimination, hostility or other misconduct. But what does that mean, exactly?
What is a hostile work environment?
In simple terms, a hostile work environment is a result of one person’s behavior within a workplace creates discomfort or difficulty for another person who is a member of a class that is protected by employment laws. This term does not refer to isolated incidents or small annoying habits, but does refer to repeated remarks or actions that create an intimidating work environment.
Examples of remarks or actions are:
- Off-color jokes that are racist or sexual in nature
- Racist remarks
- Sexually suggestive remarks
- Sexual language or displayed photos of a sexual nature
- Unwanted and Inappropriate physical touch
Any remark or action that is directed at a person specifically because of their race, age, gender, national origin, disability or other protected class assignation can be described as workplace discrimination or hostile work environment.
A hostile work environment attorney can help you define your case.
It can be difficult to determine what should be included in hostile work environment cases and an attorney can assist with that.
A hostile work environment lawyer can also help you navigate the appropriate steps to take before filing a lawsuit. Generally, your employer has to be informed of the workplace discrimination first, so they have the opportunity to take steps to remedy the situation. An attorney will be able to inform you whether or not an employer’s response, if any, is sufficient under the law
Employees also have the option of filing a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), which are government agencies who will investigate for you.
How can a hostile work environment attorney help your case?
An intimidating work environment based on discrimination is illegal. If you would like to pursue legal action against your employer, there are a number of steps to take before a lawsuit can be filed. Hiring a hostile work environment attorney can give you the information you need to fight your case successfully.
At Trillium Law, PC, we believe in giving our clients all of the information and options, to make sure you understand your case fully at every step of the way. No one should have to endure a hostile work environment. If you’ve experienced workplace discrimination, please don’t hesitate to call us.
