What is Harassment or Hostile Work Environment under Oregon Law?
In terms of what you can sue for, harassment or hostile work environment refers to being treated differently because of some protected category, like sex, race, or reporting violations of law. But you cannot suffer in silence. If a co-worker is harassing you, you must let the employer know. Then the employer must take immediate and appropriate corrective action. If it does not, then you have a claim. You might have a claim sooner if the harasser was your supervisor or the owner of the business. On the other hand, if your boss is a jerk and yells at everyone, then he is an “equal opportunity harasser,” for which you probably do not have a claim.
