Defining Hostile Work Environment: What It Really Means - Florida Employment Lawyer Jonathan Pollard

Florida employment lawyer and Super Lawyer Jonathan Pollard explains the concept of hostile work environment and what it really means.
Pollard has a long track record of representing working people often at tremendous cost to himself. But he is blunt to a fault: In this video, he explains that most people who claim they are in a "hostile work environment" do not understand what that means. Most people have workplace grievances that are mostly interpersonal disputes or petty interpersonal drama. Most people claiming hostile work environment have not had their rights violated. Instead, they have just had their feelings hurt. There are no laws against hurt feelings.
A hostile work environment means harassment based on a protected class (race, sex, religion, age, etc) where the harassment is so terrible or so pervasive that it creates an outright abusive work environment.
Pollard has appeared in or on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, NPR, PBS News Hour, Inc. Magazine, Bloomberg, and more. He has more than 75,000 followers on LinkedIn, where he frequently posts about law, business, and life.

[@jeanneredford1464]

I appreciate your blunt, straight up, bottom lining of what's real! I'm greatly encouraged after hearing you, tonight. Finally, an attorney with a set of balls! jr

[@honeybunnysoutpourings1573]

...'almost had to go back to living in my car..." I found that encouraging and inspiring at a very challenging time. Thank you.

[@vidascupcakes]

Same

[@illuzion8]

"Start your own business..." Very real advice

[@THEDUKESTER903]

What if you try to start your own business in the same town, and the ex employer is using their position within local government to block your efforts to start your own lawful business?

[@jjohnson1434]

I'm 71. I've wasted 37 years at the same agency. Tried uncessfully to overcome a smear campaign. Got fired today. If you're in a workplace that's bad, leave.

[@janedavis7223]

Love your "Get Real" approach. You're right..many a Whine-A-Thon out there. You remind me of my combat surgeon father and his "TIA" approach--TOUGH IT OUT or bail.

[@eddieashley1553]

Great video and it definitely humbled me as to what a hostile work environment is.

[@Greatness664]

So many f words, so much anger, so much self centeredness. Most work places harassment will not be direct; it's subtle.

[@marlenafina3481]

Exactly

[@THEDUKESTER903]

Wonder if beating on the door to scare the hell out of an employee who works alone in quiet who also has severe anxiety? Instead of normally knocking before entering? It was all intentional, too.

[@EffCee1]

Great video, thank you for putting this out there.

[@helenewebster-sisk2407]

I was devastated, heartbroken 💔, perplexed, and confused.

[@Horus904]

I need to speak with you regarding my case I need a ride or die lawyer I submitted my information on your website.

[@realdeal139]

Great video Sir, I like the thorough breakdown!

[@lwilliams1461]

It’s not only corporate, it’s also very common in federal too. I am glad to hear an attorney telling the FACTS about hostile environment. I was told from an attorney in the late 80’s SFO Bay Area discrimination cases are difficult to win, an associate had a discrimination case that was thrown out due to not enough evidence to prove discrimination.

[@Chloe-m5r]

You need to expand your practice to Georgia. It's so hard to find an attorney in Georgia that even wants to talk about it, much less work because of social pressure.

[@talishaperry7380]

Johnathan, thanks for your introduction. 😊 I'm disappointed that feelings are not considered part of a hostile environment.

[@robinbirch7382]

How do you handle gaslighting when you are in a hostile environment.

[@magz5055]

This is a hostile hostile work environment video😂...thanks for sharing..

[@kellykush6891]

Thank you for posting

[@marlenafina3481]

So how do you employment attorneys make money??🤑🤑

[@dewarnreed7926]

COPIES copies copies of EVERYTHING

[@rosablevins9067]

I wished I could have known a lawyer like you or your firm at the time when it happened I ended up resigning my job in 2012 bc of having a Manager who made my life difficult even the Union was representing me at that time it did not help the way it should . I was hoping to even finish working there through my retirement years in which it did not happened, I loved working there.

[@barbaravyse660]

You look like a young John Oates from Hall and Oates.

[@jep23452]

Haha! So my 4 year old son just said the same thing.

[@RosemarieIndovina]

Everything u talk about is broken down, into what we think is the truth & what is actually the truth, I have eliminated all the petty unfairness & my conclusion is I fit the category of a case that is worth taking to court, please respond as to let me know how I can send short video for review, Thank u, I know we would make a great team, let's win this

[@Job1v22]

What have you done for people with disabilities when their protected right has been violated within temporal proximity of the first accusation, and now every time there is an issue the bosses ask you if it has to do with your anxiety?

[@kashifkerr9309]

So basically what you’re saying is you don’t have a case unless the extreme happens. Subtle examples over a span of a year wouldn’t count as harassment. I’m cooked!

[@JoshuaColeman-x4z]

But my favorite icing IS vanilla and she DID IT MY CUPCAKE! And she did it on purpose!

[@barbaravyse660]

I need to talk to you because no one ordered me lemon cake with vanilla frosting for my birthday 🎂.

[@jep23452]

That is definitely a hostile work environment. You should sue for $2 million.

[@helenewebster-sisk2407]

Devastated 💔 😢because I painfully suffered an Egregious Racial and Disability Discriminations, Retaliated Hostile Work Environment, False Accusations, Defamation, Wage and Commision Fraud, etc. Called the N-Word with ball fists 👊.

[@kashifkerr9309]

Me too 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@marleybot9848]

Would an employee after being told they would be given job accommodation that would keep them from experiencing pain from their condition that was caused by the work they were doing, but then after a bit of time are given work that causes their pain to get worse and even spread to other parts of their body, and even after they remind their managers that they cannot do that harder work, but they continue to give it to them ... considered to be in a hostile work environment? That employee was then (even though they were FMLA job protected for the easier job duty) was told they were being removed from that job because it was time sensitive, though the employee had not been allowed to do that job in the first place and was instead being put to do different and harder work that was causing them the pain that was requiring them to use FMLA intermittent leave more often.

[@argirypanagopoulos8928]

How do I get in touch with you?

[@unconqueredmale69]

Is retaliation limited to the employment sector?

[@juststeve8831]

Come to Pennsylvania for a legitimate case?

[@Slip_HD]

i was denied promotion even though i was next in line with perfect reviews bc i had a workmans comp case bc of safety issues at work that would not be addressed

[@astroboy483]

Good stuff.

[@jpollardbookseller]

Nice moustache. Also - nice and informative video.

[@LindaCollins-qe5cn]

So being frequently verbal abuse that is aggressive and nothing was done to the male that was doing it to multiple women

[@M.Oui.]

He keeps saying legal versus lawful. He is only giving you info that benefits the BAR.

[@RosemarieIndovina]

I would like to send you a short video , if you can please review? Only asking for few seconds of your time, it will speak volumes, this video is of myself & the situation I was put in, I do believe it will show an inconceivable amount of disregard for a human beings life, I need someone to fight for ME, IN ALL YOUR YEARS OF Employment LAW, ....THIS WILL BE " ONE YOU CAN Pursue, W EVERY OUNCE OF OF TRUTH & JUSTICE, that is why u became a lawyer, please represent me,

[@Chloe-m5r]

👏👏👏

[@helenewebster-sisk2407]

I believe you are good at your job.

[@helenewebster-sisk2407]

Yes, I know first hand. 😢😅😮

[@CasinoCourtney]

👏🏾

[@anabeldiaz4026]

😂😂😂 I am an HR professional and I can’t stop laughing. He is so right. People creates so much drama 😝

[@ElonsCookies]

So does HR. You are literally here to protect the cmpy and bottom lines not the workers.😮😅😅😅

[@normadeplume9930]

The video that made me like you. Finally. 😂

[@jjohnson1434]

You're taking too long to make your point. Stop talking and get to the point. A manager slammed her door on my foot today. I can't work, I can't eat. I went to the psychiatrist yesterday.

[@Stbrown77]

HAA is worce

[@DominiqueWilliams-ue3rx]

15 minutes to get to the point

[@Job1v22]

What have you done for people with disabilities when their protected right has been violated within temporal proximity of the first accusation, and now every time there is an issue the bosses ask you if it has to do with your anxiety?

[@astroboy483]

Good stuff.