Getting Bullied At Work - Does That Constitute a Hostile Work Environment?

Bullying at work is such a regrettably common occurrence, as this article demonstrates. 

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However, as I discuss in my Blog elsewhere, and on more than one of my YouTube Videos, bullying your co-workers/subordinates is not "illegal."  While it may be create an intolerably hostile place to work, it does not create a "hostile work environment" under laws such as Title VII.  And, if you complain about a bully, and are fired in "return," you do not have a claim for illegal retaliation, either.

The exception to these principles is, of course, if you are being bullied BECAUSE of your AGE, SEX, DISABILITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, as a form of SEXUAL HARASSMENT, or because you sought Family Leave, or Overtime - or if you are being bullied because you previously complained to management that you were being treated unfairly or harshly becuase of your AGE, SEX, etc...

I know these are harsh concepts, but this is the way the law is set out.  That is the essence of the "at will" employment doctrine.  The misconception as to what constitutes a "hostile work environment" is so pervasive, that it is the first thing I Blogged about.  When I decided to post videos on YouTube, it was the first thing Video I did.  Both remain my most "popular" Blog and Video.

To make matters even worse, just because you are being bullied does not mean that you have a "necessitous and compelling reason" to quit your job so that you would be entitled to unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania.  Generally, the Unemployment Referees expect you to put up with a fair amount of "bullying" before they say you are justified in quitting (I wonder how they would feel if it happened to them?!).

If you are being bullied to the point of thinking you need to quit your job, try and hang in there.  You may want to consult an attorney to find out about your rights before you up and quit and unknowingly sacrifice your right to unemployment compensation

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