A hostile work environment claim requires proof of 1 membership in a protected group 2 harassment 3 based on a factor rendered impermissible by title vii 4 the harassment affected a term condition or privilege of employment and 5 the employer knew or should have known of the harassment yet failed to address it promptly hernandez v yellow transp inc 670 f3d 644 654 5th cir 2012. Buy hostile work environment employment law series read kindle store reviews amazoncom skip to main contentus hello select your address kindle store hello sign in account lists account returns orders cart . A hostile work environment is really just a specific form of harassment the eeoc defines harassment as unwelcome conduct that is based on race color religion sex including pregnancy national origin age 40 or older disability or genetic information. Getty a hostile work environment is not only illegal it can take a big chunk out of the employers pocket book for example in 2018 a jury awarded over 13 million to an employee in a . Hostile work environment one form of harassment that is prohibited by title vii of the civil rights act of 1964 title vii and state law equivalents hostile work environment claims arise when an employee alleges that the workplace is characterized by harassment that is