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- Verbal abuse in the workplace is a serious and often overlooked problem that can cause lasting emotional and psychological harm.
- Repeated yelling, name-calling, humiliation, or discriminatory language can cross the line from strict management into unlawful verbal abuse.
- Verbal abuse based on protected characteristics is illegal under New York State and federal employment laws.
- Prolonged verbal abuse can negatively impact mental and physical health, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
- Employees have the right to report verbal abuse internally, file complaints with the EEOC, and pursue legal action if the abuse continues.
Verbal abuse at work can make it difficult to feel safe, respected, or comfortable doing your job. A manager who constantly insults you, makes discriminatory remarks, or tries to humiliate you may be creating a hostile work environment. You shouldn’t have to put up with mistreatment to keep your job.
At Joseph & Norinsberg, our New York City employment lawyers have 100 years of collective experience standing up for employees. You can speak to a workplace verbal abuse lawyer in New York City for free when you call us for an initial consultation.
Why Choose Joseph & Norinsberg After Experiencing Verbal Abuse in the Workplace in New York City?
Workplace abuse is a widespread problem, with more than 30% of Americans reporting that they have experienced bullying at work, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute.
Workplace verbal abuse can take a toll on your confidence, career, and well-being. Joseph & Norinsberg stands up for employees facing mistreatment and fights to hold employers accountable.
Our seasoned team brings the experience and determination needed to pursue justice. Hereโs why clients trust us with their cases:
- Over a quarter of a billion dollars recovered: We have secured substantial results for employees seeking compensation for workplace wrongdoing. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
- 100 years of collective experience: Our attorneys draw on decades of combined legal experience to handle employment disputes.
- Founded in 2014: We have built our practice around protecting employees and challenging workplace injustice.
- Standing up for employees: We advocate for workers who have experienced verbal abuse, harassment, and other forms of workplace mistreatment.
- Trial–tested and unafraid: We prepare cases thoroughly and are ready to stand up to employers when a fair resolution is not offered.
What Does Workplace Verbal Abuse Look Like?
Verbal abuse at work can come from someone with authority, including a manager, supervisor, or company owner. Sometimes, the behavior is easy to recognize. A boss may shout at employees, insult them, or call them names. Other times, the abuse is more subtle. Repeated comments, put-downs, and hostile remarks can still take a serious toll.
Being targeted at work can affect your mental and emotional well-being. It can also make it difficult to feel comfortable or secure in your workplace. When a supervisor or coworker repeatedly criticizes, insults, or humiliates you because of your age, sex, gender, race, or sexual orientation, the conduct may involve verbal harassment or discrimination.
When Does Workplace Verbal Abuse Cross the Line?
Not every harsh comment or negative performance review qualifies as workplace harassment under New York law. The circumstances matter, including what was said, why it was said, and whether the behavior was connected to a protected characteristic.
However, repeated mistreatment should not be dismissed as ordinary management or workplace hazing.
Examples of potentially abusive conduct include:
- Repeated personal criticism: Constantly attacking an employee rather than addressing specific work-related issues.
- Offensive or degrading remarks: Using insulting language to demean or intimidate someone.
- Discriminatory comments: Making derogatory statements about an employee’s race, sex, age, gender, or another protected characteristic.
- Name–calling and personal insults: Using hurtful labels to undermine an employee’s confidence or credibility.
- Public humiliation: Deliberately shaming an employee in front of coworkers or others.
A supervisor who reprimands an employee for a serious mistake is not necessarily engaging in verbal abuse. The situation changes when criticism turns into repeated humiliation, involves discriminatory or sexually offensive remarks, or becomes part of a broader pattern of mistreatment.
Employees in New York City deserve a workplace where they are treated with respect and protected from unlawful harassment and discrimination. When a supervisor’s conduct crosses legal boundaries, affected workers may have grounds to pursue a complaint or legal claim.
If you believe your employer has violated your rights, a workplace verbal abuse lawyer in New York City can help you understand your options. Reach out today to discuss your situation and learn what steps you may be able to take.
Health Effects of a Verbally Abusive Boss or Coworker
When verbal abuse is tied to a protected characteristic, it is not only harmful but unlawful, and it can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health. Prolonged verbal abuse can have lasting psychological effects, including symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress.
Some of the most common health symptoms experienced by verbally abused workers include:
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
- Musculoskeletal problems
- Digestive issues
- Anxiety
- Phobias
A co-worker or supervisor may create a hostile work environment by repeatedly:
- Using offensive or disrespectful language toward you
- Calling you names intended to shame or humiliate you
- Constantly using discriminatory language when referring to you
This behavior could be more than uncomfortable; it could be adversely affecting your overall health and well-being. And chances are, if you are being verbally abused in your work environment, the offender is mistreating other workers as well. Joseph & Norinsberg is here to stand up for you.
What Does the Law Say About Verbal Abuse at Work?
New York State and federal laws make it illegal to discriminate against any protected class in the workplace. In New York, protected employment classes include race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and sexual orientation.
If you are being verbally abused based on one of these protected classes, the abuse is not only cruel, but also unlawful.
An experienced NYC verbal abuse lawyer is your best line of defense against this kind of discriminatory behavior. Do not suffer in silence; we can help. Contact Joseph & Norinsberg today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
What to Do If You’re a Victim of Workplace Verbal Abuse
Workplace abuse can arise in large New York City workplaces, like JPMorgan Chase, Mount Sinai Health System, and NYC Health + Hospitals. If your workplace is a hostile environment, you have options. First, let the abuser know that you aren’t comfortable with how they talk to you or about you.
If you feel unsafe confronting the person responsible, you can report the behavior to human resources or the department that handles workplace harassment complaints. Explain what has happened and how it has affected you so your employer is aware of the situation.
If reporting the abuse internally does not resolve the issue, you may be able to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Verbal Abuse Is Harassment
Harassment can take many forms, one of which is verbal abuse. If a supervisor or co-worker is intentionally causing you emotional harm by engaging in consistent, abusive behaviors over a period of time, their actions may qualify as harassment.
Verbal abuse that meets the criteria for harassment can come in the form of:
- Words spoken in your presence
- Emails
- Voicemails
- Handwritten notes
- Text messages
When workplace harassment is based on a protected characteristic, it is a form of unlawful discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. An experienced employment law attorney can help you determine how to proceed if you are suffering verbal abuse at work.
When workplace verbal abuse becomes discriminatory, it is unlawful, and victims have a legal right to bring a lawsuit against their employer.
Although there is no law prohibiting general bullying, if the bullying rises to the level of discrimination, there are multiple state and federal laws protecting workers from a hostile work environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Verbal Abuse a Form of Harassment?
Harassment can take many forms, one of which is verbal abuse. If a supervisor or co-worker is intentionally causing you emotional harm by engaging in consistent, abusive behaviors over a period of time, their actions may qualify as harassment. Verbal abuse that meets the criteria for harassment can come in the form of words spoken in your presence, emails, voicemails, handwritten notes, and text messages.
As workplace harassment is a type of employment discrimination, it violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and is therefore illegal. An experienced employment law attorney can help you determine how to proceed if you are suffering verbal abuse at work.
Can You Sue Your Boss For Verbal Abuse?
When workplace verbal abuse becomes discriminatory, it is unlawful, and victims have a legal right to bring a lawsuit against their employer. Although there is no law prohibiting general bullying, if the bullying rises to the level of discrimination, there are multiple state and federal laws protecting workers from a hostile work environment.
If you are being verbally abused based on race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, disability, or another protected trait, you may wish to bring a discrimination lawsuit against your employer. In some cases, even abusive behavior that is not considered to be discriminatory can lead to a lawsuit. If, for example, company policy prohibits the behavior in question and your supervisor refuses to enforce this policy, despite repeated requests for help, you may be able to sue for breach of contract.
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Get a Free Consultation With a New York City Workplace Verbal Abuse Attorney
Verbal abuse can cause serious harm, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. It can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and other harm. That’s why you should have a workplace verbal abuse lawyer in New York City on your side.
Employees in New York City may face sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and age discrimination at work, too. When you need an aggressive, reliable New York City workplace verbal abuse lawyer to defend your rights in front of a jury, trust Joseph & Norinsberg.
Contact our NYC office online today or give us a call for a free initial consultation. Check out our reviews to see why clients choose us.
Jon Norinsberg is one of New York Cityโs leading civil rights and trial attorneys, with decades of experience litigating high-stakes constitutional and employment disputes. Jon is known as a fearless, battle-tested trial lawyer who takes on powerful corporations, government entities, and public institutions in cases involving civil rights violations, police misconduct, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful conduct.
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Secured compensation for several years of lost wages, and emotional distress, and compensation for the physical assault.
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