Hostile Work Environment

Every workplace has its share of teasing and jokes, but there comes a time when the line is crossed. It can be difficult to determine when jokes are acceptable and when a hostile work environment has been created. If you have questions or concerns, it is generally a good idea to seek experienced legal assistance.…

While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects applicants and employees from being discriminated against due to their national origin, there are occasions where employers will sometimes try to engage in behavior that may exclude people based on a certain aspect of national origin—most commonly, the language they speak or the accent…

In today’s contentious political climate, many employers have begun to impose blanket bans on political talk, even when employees are on break or at lunch. Emotions run high and opinions are strong. But do these uncomfortable situations really constitute hostile work environments for employees? The answer is likely more complex than one might think.

Describing our jobs as hostile work environments has become almost colloquial, but a truly proving a hostile work environment requires meeting legal benchmarks. Teasing and joking, however unwelcome, do not make a hostile work environment, and yet it can be very difficult to be able to articulate exactly what does. The more evidence you have,…

Most people are familiar with the concept of a hostile work environment, especially if they are a member of one or more minority groups. However, far fewer can define what that actually means, and that lack of knowledge can lead to many harassment claims going unreported. Being familiar with what hostile work environment actually is…

Sometimes, when a job ends, it does so on bad terms. It is sadly not uncommon for employers to take the opportunity, after an employee has moved on, to speak ill of them for a variety of reasons. However, within certain circumstances, to do so is against South Carolina law. If an employer oversteps their…

Though it may not seem like it, even federal institutions do change. Because it happens so infrequently, however, people can be blindsided by it, to the detriment of any business they may have with the agency. Such is the case with the March 2016 changes in procedure at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Staying…

Our jobs are not as secure as they perhaps once were. In this day and age, more and more companies are choosing to focus on the bottom line, and sometimes, this can result in mistakes and outright ill treatment from employers that have obligations to treat us better. If you ever wind up in the…

Individuals have the right to a work in an environment that is free from discrimination based on their immutable characteristics. If you experience mistreatment based on your membership in a protected class, you have the right to bring suit against your employer. However, sometimes this results in retaliation, either in the form of more mistreatment,…

While many people use the term “hostile work environment,” there is a big difference between what it means legally and what it means colloquially. Legally, there is a gulf between experiencing unpleasantness at work, and having a cause of action under which you can bring suit. It is important to understand the difference, so that…