A hostile environment in the workplace is an illegal form of harassment, discrimination and other offensive behaviors. This can have a lasting impact on your employees – and lead to employee dissatisfaction, lack of engagement and turnover. In this blog, we’ll review what consists of a hostile environment in the workplace, along with examples, signs and how to address it.
What is a hostile work environment?
Sometimes, employees may encounter situations at work that make them uncomfortable, intimidated and/or afraid. But a true hostile work environment must meet specific legal criteria set by the EEOC. This includes unwelcome conduct such as harassment, discrimination, victimization, violence and other types of offensive behavior that are based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, disability and more.
Learn More About Workplace Harassment and Employee Misconduct from HR Acuity’s 2023 Study
What qualifies as a hostile work environment?
There are legal requirements to determine what constitutes a hostile work environment. The criteria for a hostile work environment include behavior that is:
- Pervasive, severe and persistent
- Disruptive or detrimental to the complainant’s work
- Known to the employer but not adequately addressed
According to the EEOC, workplace harassment becomes unlawful when “enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment”. A complainant does not have to prove there was a threat of firing, negative performance reviews or withheld assignments.
When conducting a hostile work environment investigation, it’s important to understand the threshold that behavior must cross before it becomes actionable. You’ll likely interview the complainant, witness(es) and the subject(s).
What is not considered a hostile work environment?
An environment that is merely unpleasant or irritating is not considered a hostile work environment. Instances like personality conflicts, rudeness, annoyances, petty offenses and isolated incidents also do not qualify as elements of a hostile work environment.
For example, an isolated incident where your supervisor raises their voice at you is usually not enough to be considered a hostile work environment. Additionally, if a supervisor or coworker is rude to everyone regardless of their background, it is unlikely to be considered a hostile work environment.
Signs of a hostile work environment
Although the factors of a hostile work environment vary, there are some indicators you can look out for. Signs of a hostile work environment include but are not limited to:
- Employee performance changes
- Discrimination
- Physical or verbal aggression
- Sexual harassment
- Isolation and exclusion
- Unfair policies
- Absenteeism
- Employee burnout
- Increased employee attrition or turnover
Hostile work environment examples
A hostile environment in the workplace may look or sound like any mix of discriminatory or inappropriate behavior. Some examples of conduct that may constitute a hostile work environment include:
- Offensive, discriminatory or racist jokes
- Insults, slurs, name-calling and offensive nicknames
- Unwanted physical contact, assaults or threats
- Mockery, intimidation, hazing or ridicule
- Use of sexually explicit language
- Sexually suggestive pictures, objects or behavior
- Ongoing microaggressions
- Exclusionary practices or behaviors towards a certain demographic/group
How HR Acuity Helps You Prevent and Address Hostile Work Environments
A hostile work environment doesn’t just impact individual employees—it affects your entire workplace culture, eroding trust, engagement and productivity. To create a safe, inclusive workplace, organizations need a structured approach for identifying, addressing and preventing toxic behaviors before they escalate. We know that issues can only be dealt with when companies are aware of them. According to the 2023 Workplace Harassment and Misconduct Insights, 42% of employees who experienced an incident of workplace harassment or misconduct did not report it.
HR Acuity provides the tools to make that happen. With anonymous employee reporting, employees can safely and confidentially report concerns, ensuring issues are surfaced early. Our investigation management platform helps organizations document, track and resolve complaints consistently, reducing legal risks while fostering a culture of accountability and fairness.
A safe workplace starts with the right processes. Schedule a Curiosity Tour with our team today.
