Is a Toxic Work Environment Illegal?

Many workplaces in South Florida have negative elements that can make it difficult for employees to perform their jobs with the same ease that would exist in a more productive and collaborative environment. You might discuss your toxic work environment with co-workers or family members, and you may wonder about your options for making a change. But what is a toxic work environment, and what makes a toxic work environment illegal? In short, not all toxic work environments are illegal, but many are, and our South Florida employment law and discrimination attorneys can explain in more detail.

Defining a Toxic Work Environment

What is a toxic work environment, and what are the elements of one? According to the University of California, Berkeley’s Executive Education program, a “toxic workplace is one where negativity is deeply embedded in the culture, significantly hindering productivity and performance.” Typically, the program explains, toxic workplaces have one or more of the following elements:

• Excessive workloads;
• Absence of clear boundaries;
• Exclusivity and cliquishness;
• Limited opportunities for growth;
• Lack of transparency;
• Micromanagement; and
• Fear-based leadership.

A toxic work environment can have many repercussions, including high turnover rates and impacts on employees’ physical and mental health. But is a toxic work environment illegal?

Toxic Work Environment Versus Hostile Work Environment

Sometimes a toxic work environment can be toxic for reasons that are unlawful. When that is true, the work environment may rise to the level of being a hostile work environment, for which an impacted employee may be able to file a claim. Many toxic work environments are toxic — or at least toxic in part — because they involve discriminatory behavior or harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic, which gives rise to a hostile work environment.

In short, a toxic work environment in itself is not necessarily illegal, but if it involves any kind of unlawful discrimination or retaliation — under a state law like the Florida Civil Rights Act or under various federal laws that protect employees — then it can be illegal. The best way to determine if your toxic work environment is a hostile work environment for which you may be eligible to file a harassment claim is to speak with an attorney about your situation.

Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Harassment Lawyer to Find Out More About Filing a Hostile Work Environment Claim

If you are facing any kind of harassment or working in a toxic work environment that may be the result of unlawful behavior or actions, you may be able to file a hostile work environment harassment claim. Whether you are the target of the harmful behavior or you are simply having to work in a difficult environment due to others’ behavior, you should reach out to one of the experienced Palm Beach Gardens harassment and hostile work environment attorneys at Sconzo Law Office. We can discuss the details of your workplace with you today, and if the environment includes unlawful behavior under state or federal law, we can help you to move forward with a harassment claim. Contact us today to get started.

Source:

executive.berkeley.edu/