Many employees think of a hostile work environment as one with an overbearing or demanding boss or inconsiderate co-workers who engage in teasing or utter an occasional offensive comment. Under the law, however, a work environment is “hostile” when managers or co-workers engage in discriminatory conduct (i.e., behavior based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of the complaining worker’s employment and creates an “abusive working relationship.” The harassment must be objectively abusive, and the complaining employee must also personally experience it as abusive.
If you have any questions related to sexual harassment and discrimination in Connecticut, please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq. at (203) 221-3100 or e-mail him directly at JMaya@Mayalaw.com.