Los Angeles Hostile Work Environment Lawyers

What Is Considered a Hostile Work Environment in California?

Not all forms of workplace harassment will fall under the umbrella of a hostile work environment, and it’s important to know the guidelines before a suit can be filed. Generally, if negative behavior occurs occasionally, is isolated, sporadic, or trivial in nature, it is not considered a hostile work environment.

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees from hostile work environments. According to FEHA, the inappropriate or unwelcome behavior you encounter must be pervasive or severe enough that it changes the conditions of employment and creates an abusive atmosphere.

Behaviors That Create an Unlawful Hostile Work Environment

A wide range of behaviors can contribute to a hostile work environment. It’s also important to note that the behavior doesn’t need to be aimed directly at you to be considered harassment. 

Some of the most common include:

• Offensive jokes
• Racial slurs
• Gender-based slurs
• Sexual comments
• Physical harassment such as unwanted touching or rubbing
• Epithets or name-calling
• Any type of physical violence
• Threats of physical violence
• Intimidation
• Any type of insult
• Showing offensive objects or pictures
• Discrimination

Protected Traits Under California Law

FEHA outlines specific protected traits that are considered part of a hostile work environment if attacked using any of the above behaviors: 

• Race
• Religion
• Gender
• Mental disability
• Physical disability
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Age
• National origin
• Marital status
• Ancestry
• Medical conditions

How a Hostile Work Environment Lawyer Can Help

When you work with Nosrati Law, our legal team can help by:

• Evaluating whether your experience meets the legal standard for a hostile work environment.
• Gathering and preserving evidence, including documentation, witness statements, and employer communications.
• Communicating with your employer or their legal counsel to address the issue before it escalates.
• Filing formal complaints or lawsuits when internal remedies fail, or retaliation occurs.
• Pursuing compensation and corrective action while guiding you through each step of the process.

Because we focus exclusively on employment law, our attorneys bring deep experience and a practical understanding of how these cases unfold in California workplaces.

When to Call a Los Angeles Hostile Work Environment Attorney

If you feel that you are the victim of a hostile work environment, it is important to act as soon as possible. If you feel comfortable, ask the offender to stop the behavior. If this fails to produce results, speak with your employer about the harassment you are experiencing.

Make a point of keeping a record of the events and your responses. This will help develop a pattern of abuse that can improve your chances of a successful lawsuit if it comes to that. 

If your employer fails to remedy the situation, or if you are fearful and not sure what to do, contact Nosrati Law. We work on a contingency basis, offer virtual consultations, and are personally invested in helping you feel safe, respected, and supported again at work.

Call (323) 784-0643 today. Our bilingual team communicates easily with both English and Spanish-speaking employees.