The people that you work with can make a massive difference to your enjoyment of your job. If your colleagues are jovial and friendly, it can be a joy to get up and go to work in the morning. It’s a different case when your workplace becomes hostile. It can become challenging even to carry out your job on a daily basis.
If you are experiencing a negative working environment, you may be wondering when it stops being a personal problem and starts to become a legal issue of harassment under Michigan law. Of course, not workplace disagreements will rise to the level of harassment. Generally speaking, you can identify workplace harassment in the state of Michigan by the following common traits.
Unwelcome Conduct
To successfully sue for workplace harassment, you will need to be able to show that you suffered conduct that you did not welcome. This conduct can come in the form of taunting, jokes, slurs, or physical contact. To prove that it was unwelcome, you will need to show that you objected to the conduct in some way – via email, text, or a report to a supervisor, for example.
Targeted as a Protected Class
To count as harassment in the eyes of the law, workplace misconduct must be aimed at you because you are a member of a protected class. Federal law stipulates that you cannot be discriminated against because of your race, color, nationality, age, religion, disability, gender, or pregnancy status. If you are targeted for any other reason, you are unlikely to have a case that will succeed in court.
Quid Pro Quo or the Creation of A Hostile Work Environment
For your workplace harassment suit to have legal standing, you will need to be able to show that you were required to endure the ongoing harassment as a condition of your continued employment or that the harassment created a hostile working environment. In other words, if you are told that your objections may lead to you being fired, you may have a legal case. Similarly, if a reasonable person would agree that your workplace is intimidating or abusive, you may have a case.
Speak to a Workplace Lawyer in Michigan Immediately
Workplace harassment happens across Michigan and the United States every day. It’s best to contact legal help as soon as possible. Your law team will advise you and help you gather evidence. At the Michigan Legal Center, we’ve had 20 years of experience assisting residents to settle their workplace lawsuits. Call us at 1-800-961-8477 or fill out a case evaluation form to speak to a lawyer. With a legal rep, you stand a much better chance of receiving justice in a courtroom.