There goes Natalie again, complaining about how your boss Eric is creating a hostile workplace because he has loud conversations on speakerphone and doesn’t close his office door. Is she right? What does that mean? What if she’s right? How should they deal with this?!?!?!
Here’s Five Fast Facts on hostile workplaces and how they impact your Paycheck:
- 🙈 What It Isn’t - Let’s get the important thing out of the way first. If an employee has a bad habit you don’t like or one that regularly bothers co-workers, it’s not enough to qualify as a “hostile” workplace. That said, one in five Americans experiences working in a hostile environment.
- 😓 What It Is - Of course it’s a gray area, but a baseline definition centers around harassment that is “unwelcome conduct” based on age, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), nation of origin, age (40+), disability or genetics. That explains why a lot of workplaces are hostile and stressful!
- 🔁 Constant and Consistent - One incident (usually) doesn’t qualify as workplace hostility. The behavior has to happen consistently or purposefully over a period of time.
- 🧑💼 Big Boss - There’s one more element. When an employee makes a claim, it’s up to the employer to address the issue in a timely and effective manner. If not, or if the case is handled poorly, the employer becomes responsible for fostering the environment.
- ⚖️ Protect Yo’ Self- If, in the above situation, your employer doesn’t handle it or handles it inappropriately, it’s time to file a complaint or get a lawyer. But be careful, in most hostile work lawsuits, the burden of proof is put on the person who brought the suit. And you do not want to count on HR backing you up in this case.
🔥Bottom line: Work brings together a variety of different personality types and not all of them are going to get along or even see eye to eye. But knowing how to identify a real problem is key. Be smart, protect yourself and support others who are in need.
Do you work in a hostile environment?
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