“Hostile work environment” is an oft-used, oft-misunderstood phrase. It is illegal for an employer to subject you to harassing conduct because of your race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status. On the other hand, it’s not against the law for your boss (or your coworker) to be a jerk. Personality conflicts are not illegal harassment, unless the underlying issue is race, gender, etc. If you believe that you are being, or have been, subjected to a hostile work environment for a prohibited reason, contact us.