What is a hostile work environment?

When your job becomes impossible due to the behavior, actions, or communication of your coworkers or boss, your work environment may be considered to be hostile. However, there are a number of criteria that must be met in order for a work environment to be considered a hostile work environment, including: the actions of your coworkers and or boss must be discriminatory; these actions or behaviors must be pervasive, and not be limited to one or two isolated incidents; the actions or behaviors must be severe in nature, and seriously disrupt your work; and your employer must have been aware of these actions or behaviors and have done nothing to prevent them.