ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

On the Job

Sexual Harassment

What is hostile environment harassment?

Hostile environment harassment occurs when employees are regularly subjected to comments of a sexual nature, offensive sexual materials, unwelcome physical contact, or derogatory and insulting comments aimed at an individual because of the individual's sex, race, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Generally speaking, a single isolated incident will not be considered hostile environment harassment unless it is extremely outrageous and egregious conduct. The courts look to see whether the conduct is both serious and frequent.

Supervisors, managers, coworkers, and even customers can be responsible for creating a hostile environment.