What Constitutes a "Hostile Work Environment"?
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a hostile work environment is when harassment--including unwelcome comments or conduct based on sex, race, or other legally protected characteristics--unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
What actions could cause a hostile work environment?
The FCC cites the following as examples of actions that may create sexual hostile environment harassment include:
Leering, i.e., staring in a sexually suggestive manner
Making offensive remarks about looks, clothing, body parts
Touching in a way that may make an employee feel uncomfortable, such as patting, pinching or intentional brushing against another's body
Telling sexual or lewd jokes, hanging sexual posters, making sexual gestures, etc.
Sending, forwarding or soliciting sexually suggestive letters, notes, emails, or images
According to the FCC, other actions which may result in hostile environment harassment, but are non-sexual in nature, include:
Use of racially derogatory words, phrases, epithets
Demonstrations of a racial or ethnic nature such as a use of gestures, pictures or drawings which would offend a particular racial or ethnic group
Comments about an individual's skin color or other racial/ethnic characteristics
Making disparaging remarks about an individual's gender that are not sexual in nature
Negative comments about an employee's religious beliefs (or lack of religious beliefs)
Expressing negative stereotypes regarding an employee's birthplace or ancestry
Negative comments regarding an employee's age when referring to employees 40 and over
Derogatory or intimidating references to an employee's mental or physical impairment
Related Resources:
- Understanding Workplace Harassment (FCC.gov)
- Sexual Harassment: What is it? (FindLaw)
- EEOC Recommends Employer "Best Practices" to Promote Work/Family Balance (FindLaw Writ)
- How to Spot Sexual Harassment: 6 Facts (FindLaw's Law & Daily Life)