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The rights of employees in a hostile work environment

On Behalf of | Oct 9, 2020 | Hostile Work Environment

When Florida employers violate the rights of the men and women who work for them, victims have the right to pursue legal action. One of these rights is to work in a place that is free from harassment, discrimination and illegal treatment of all kinds. When employers allow these things to happen, retaliate over reporting incidents and ignore problems, it can lead to the development of a hostile work environment.

A work environment can become hostile for an individual experiencing certain types of mistreatment. This may include sexual harassment over a long period of time, or it may include any type of behavior that is recurring, pervasive or aggressive. A hostile work environment can develop because of the actions of a co-worker or employer, or it may happen because an employer fails to address problems when reported. 

Those who are in this type of work environment may feel like they cannot speak out for fear they won’t be believed or the treatment will get worse. In other cases, they may feel like it this treatment is motivated by the desire to get the victim to quit. One thing that can be helpful is to carefully document instances where hostile treatment is evident as this can help with a potential civil claim.

A victim does not have to stay silent about working in a hostile work environment. It is beneficial to speak with an experienced employment law attorney about the options available, which may include a claim against the Florida employer. An assessment of the situation can help a victim understand what to do to assert rights and hold  parties deemed responsible fully accountable.