What Is A Hostile Work EnvironmentThere has been a revolution in the working style of people of today. There was a time when an employee stood again and again when the boss came into his or her room. But now the time has changed. Such style of working doesn't exist. The relationship shared between an employer and employee has undergone a tremendous and positive change. They have become more open and friendly towards work. They can sit, laugh and clap together while working on the same table. And it has been proved time and again that such friendly atmosphere has led to the successful growth of the organization. But there are few organizations that run with same stereotypical standards. There exists a big gap between the employer and employee. Due to various factors, the atmosphere sulks in such offices. The employees remain unhappy at work because of the unjust treatment of their employers. Such an attitude of the employer gives birth to the hostile work environment. In such circumstances, an employee fears and feels harassment. The environment becomes unpleasant, nerve-racking and unfair to the employees. It is not necessary that the harasser has to be in form of the employer only. The harasser can be anybody in the organization from team leader and manager to supervisor and client of the organization. Anything that makes an employee uncomfortable in the organization due to somebody senior can create hostile working environment. The workplace environment can also become intimidating because of the various discriminating factors. If the employer physically or mentally tortures an employee because he or she belongs to a different race, color, religion, gender, age or disability, then it is subjected to a cause of hostile work environment. The harassment can be in various forms, such as insulting comments, sexual advances, racial and age discrimination. The sexual harassment in workplace includes sexually seductive staring, offensive comments on clothes and body parts, as well as touching an employee in uncomfortable way. All these verbal or physical actions are part of hostile working environment. The employer should not make indecent comments on employees' color, race, ethnic features, gender and faith on any religion. Also, demoting an employee because he is over 40 years is derogatory. No employee should be hired, fired, promoted, demoted or suspended because of discrimination of any form. Hence, if any employee is becoming victim of hostile work environment, then he or she should not surrender to any such circumstances. Rather the employee should report such case to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which safeguards the victims who get abused at work places. There are various laws that have been established so as to protect the employees from unjust practices happening at the work place. Therefore, such laws are also a warning to all employers and organizations that commit such inhuman acts of suppression. Rather employers should create a friendly atmosphere that develops and encourages the employees' interest at work place. A healthy work place environment keeps a healthy employer-employee relationship that in return gives more productivity at work. |