How much harassment does a reasonable employee have to tolerate?
You should tolerate very little. If someone’s conduct offends you, tell them. That will often make it stop. Before a court will order your employer to pay you for putting up with a co-worker’s harassment, however, it must be “severe and pervasive”. Lewd jokes, ostracism, pornography, and sexual comments may all create an environment where sexually harassing conduct is severe or pervasive. Unless very serious, one incident or isolated comment will not be enough to render the work environment hostile. In addition, you must tell your employer about the co-worker’s harassment before courts will hold your employer responsible, unless the harassment comes from a supervisor.
