The term “hostile work environment” can be used in an everyday sense to describe any unpleasant or unpleasant work environment, but it has a specific legal meaning when used in the context of employment discrimination. A Hostile Work Environment in plain English sense and an Illegal Hostile Work Environment are two different things.

A hostile work environment is illegal when it targets a protected class in the workplace. It refers to a situation in which an employee is subjected to harassment or discrimination because of their membership in a protected class, such as race, religion, gender, age, national origin, or disability. This hostile work environment is illegal under federal and state anti-discrimination laws and can give rise to a legal claim against an employer.

In contrast, a hostile work environment, in the everyday sense, can refer to any unpleasant or hostile work environment, regardless of whether it is based on discrimination or not. This type of hostile work environment is probably not illegal and may not give rise to a legal claim against an employer.

Plainly, hostile behavior must be targeted toward employees with certain protected characteristics, such as race, religion, or sex, to be considered illegal. Generally, simply being rude to everyone, regardless of their protected status, does not break the law. Similarly, supervisors with favorites that are not homogenous regarding protected classes are also not breaking the law. And finally, isolated incidents or petty slights are usually not enough to create a hostile work environment, and it takes more than a boss yelling at someone once to sue for creating a hostile work environment.

The information provided in this response is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. This response should not be relied upon as legal advice. The information in this response may not reflect the most current legal developments and may vary by jurisdiction.