New York City Hostile Work Environment Lawyer
The term ‘hostile work environment’ is often used to describe an uncomfortable or toxic workplace. While many situations qualify, Federal and New York City statutes have specific criteria for what this means. If your employer is violating your right to a safe and healthy work environment, you need the experience of a Syracuse employment law attorney to help you build a case to show it meets the standard. At Gattuso & Ciotoli, we have an experienced New York City hostile work environment lawyer dedicated to supporting their clients in employment law cases.
What is a New York City Hostile Work Environment
The legal definition of a hostile work environment is defined by the US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Generally speaking, harassment is one of the primary factors of a hostile work environment and is defined as unwelcome conduct based on a protected class. This conduct becomes unlawful and hostile when you must endure it to continue to be employed or it has reached a frequency or intensity to which a reasonable person might consider the workplace environment hostile, intimidating, or abusive.
The protected factors that may push the conduct to harassment or a hostile work environment include race, color, religious beliefs, nation of origin, age above 40, disability, genetic information, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy and lactation status. Similar behavior that is conducted without targeting a protected class may not meet the guidelines of a hostile work environments, but this is something your attorney can help you with.
Examples of a Hostile Work Environment
Many cases of a hostile work environment are based on the person directly experiencing harassment or discrimination, but it can also have significant detrimental effects on those who witness it. Behaviors and harassment that cause a hostile work environment can be varied and nuanced. Examples of cases we often see may include:
- Unwanted sexual advances, contact, jokes, or displaying sexually explicit material
- Jokes that include slurs, discrimination, or other kinds of degradation or name-calling based on a protected class
- An employer who provides different treatment based on protected characteristics such as gender or race
- Intentional disruption of work based on a protected characteristic
Additionally, an employer is responsible for addressing and preventing these situations as they become aware. They may be held responsible for the hostile behavior of employees, coworkers, supervisors, or even third-party contractors.
Why Choose Gattuso & Ciotoli
At Gattuso & Ciotoli, we have more than 50 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of individuals and their families. Our focus on personal injury and employment law allows a deeper understanding of the topics because we work on those types of cases regularly. We value forming deep and personalized professional relationships with our clients, which allows us to translate that into individualized plans for their cases.
Managing a legal battle with your employer can add additional stress to an already tense situation. A Gattuso & Ciotoli attorney will review your case and work with you to identify motives for the behavior and investigate the situation to obtain evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. Our team can focus on legal matters so you can focus on getting your life back on track.