Hostile Work Environment

South Jersey Employment Lawyers

All employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe workplace for their employees that is free from unnecessary hazards and discriminatory practices that can create a hostile work environment. When racial, sex, age, gender identification, religious, or disability discrimination or harassment exists in the workplace, a hostile environment can develop, causing extreme stress to employees.

As the stress level in a hostile work environment increases, employees may find it difficult to carry out their work duties. Fear of retaliation or termination for reporting workplace discrimination or harassment can leave victims feeling powerless. Fortunately, victims of hostile work environments can hold their employers liable for damages.

The Mount Laurel, New Jersey employment lawyers at The Law Offices of Leo B. Dubler, III, LLC are committed to helping victims of a hostile work environment claim the justice they deserve. The team of highly skilled and experienced employment lawyers at the firm work diligently to ensure their client’s legal rights are protected and that they claim the justice and compensation they deserve.

Consequences of a Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment is created when an employee or a group of employees is treated unfairly because of their race, sex, age, marital status, gender identification, religion, disability, or pregnancy. Sexual harassment and fear of retaliation for reporting discriminatory actions or harassment by a supervisor or colleague also create a hostile work environment.

A work environment that is intolerant to race, religious, or gender differences, or subjects an employee to ridicule, offensive language or gestures, sexual intimidation or inappropriate gestures can become so stressful that employees can suffer emotional and physical trauma, such as:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Digestive issues
  • Headache
  • Neck pain
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Alcoholism
  • Substance abuse
  • High blood pressure
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Fribromyalgia

Recent studies have shown that these physical and emotional consequences of a hostile work environment can result in decreased productivity and high absenteeism at work.

Types of Discrimination and Harassment in a Hostile Work Environment

Workplace discrimination and harassment can take many forms. To be clear, a hostile work environment exists when these types of behaviors are intentional, continuous, and destructive. The most common forms of discrimination and harassment include:

  • Repetitious and derogatory comments about a particular race, gender, or religion
  • Demotions or failure to promote based on age or pregnancy
  • Refusal to provide gender neutral bathrooms or allow employees to choose gender appropriate bathrooms
  • Inappropriate jokes or printed material that offend particular races, sexes, gender identification, or religions
  • Failure to allow employees to wear clothing or headpieces that are specific to a religious group
  • Retaliation or the threat of retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment
  • Violence or threat of violence against an employee or specific group of employees
  • Insults, humiliation, or abusive language used to describe an employee or a group of employees
  • Failure of management or employers to act on reports of discrimination or harassment

Discriminatory actions and harassment can occur as one type of behavior or in a combination of these behaviors by colleagues, supervisors, managers, or employers. Failure to act on reports of such discrimination or harassment is unlawful.

South Jersey Employment Lawyers at The Law Offices of Leo B. Dubler, III, LLC Represent Victims of Hostile Work Environments

If you have been a victim of a hostile work environment, call the South Jersey employment lawyers at The Law Offices of Leo B. Dubler, III, LLC at 856-235-7075, or contact us online to schedule a consultation today. Our Mount Laurel and Atlantic City offices allow us to serve clients throughout South Jersey, including the areas of Cherry Hill, Camden County, and Burlington County.