Palm Beach Gardens Hostile Workplace Attorney
Many people are unhappy with their job. It is often a miserable slog to go to work each day for one reason or another. Of course, just because you do not like your working conditions, that does not necessarily mean your employer has done anything illegal.
At the same time, there are situations where an employer’s conduct has created an intolerable working environment for certain employees based on their race, color, religion, or some other legally protected trait. These employees may, in fact, have a viable “hostile workplace” claim under various federal and state employment discrimination laws. At the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., our Palm Beach Gardens hostile workplace attorneys can assist you in identifying such problems and taking legal action against your employer.
Understanding When “Jokes” or Remarks Add Up to Discrimination
Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act both forbid a number of forms of discrimination in employment. For instance, an employer cannot fire or refuse to hire you because of your race or gender. Of course, most employers are not so overt in their discriminatory conduct.
Instead, what we often see is a form of conduct known as hostile workplace discrimination. A hostile workplace is one where the discriminatory conduct is so severe and prevalent that it affects a protected employee’s ability to do their job. So we are not talking here about conduct that simply makes an employee uncomfortable. After all, we have all had to deal with rude or inconsiderate bosses and coworkers. The conduct itself must actually target the employee based on their membership in a protected class.
A common example of this is a female employee subjected to routine sexual harassment. If a supervisor or coworker commonly makes sexist “jokes” or remarks directed at a female employee, that can give rise to a hostile workplace claim. Similarly, a Black or Asian employee who is targeted by racist slurs would have a strong case for harassment. Generally speaking, however, a one-time remark or event is not enough to prove a hostile workplace. The conduct must persist over a period of time and be severe enough to disrupt the working environment.
If you are experiencing a hostile work environment, it is important to document all such incidents, as they can later help you prove your case. Most employers have an internal reporting policy for addressing harassment complaints, and you should avail yourself of that process first. Even if the employer takes no action, that can still prove that management was aware of the hostile workplace issue.
Contact the Sconzo Law Office Today
Victims of a hostile workplace can seek a variety of damages in court, including monetary compensation and injunctive relief against the offending employer. So if you are, or have been, a target for any sort of harassment or bullying based on a legally protected characteristic, do not hesitate to speak with a Palm Beach Gardens hostile workplace attorney. Contact the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
