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recovered for our employment law cases
Experiencing frequent harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation can make going to work unbearable. Federal, state, and local laws in New York City protect employees from hostile work environments. A skilled New York hostile work environment lawyer from Joseph & Norinsberg LLC can help you fight back and hold those responsible accountable.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” At Joseph & Norinsberg LLC, we’ve taken those words to heart and made it our mission to fight hard for justice for the underdog.
Our highly skilled, tenacious NY employment lawyers have over 75 years of collective experience fighting for workers’ rights in NYC, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island. We are proud of our relentless work ethic, exceptional trial skills, and empathy for every client. Our team is also proud to provide legal services in both English and Spanish so all workers have access to justice.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose Joseph & Norinsberg for Your Hostile Work Environment Case?
- How Can a New York City Hostile Work Environment Lawyer Help You?
- How Do I Prove a Hostile Work Environment Claim in New York?
- What Damages Are Available for Victims of Hostile Work Environments in NY?
- Understanding Hostile Work Environment in New York City
- Contact Joseph & Norinsberg for Your Hostile Work Environment Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Joseph & Norinsberg for Your Hostile Work Environment Case?
At Joseph & Norinsberg LLC, we have extensive experience handling workplace harassment cases in NYC. Our firm is committed to fighting passionately and aggressively for every client who walks through our doors. With a staff of experienced attorneys and paralegals, we are ready to support you during your case, inside and outside the courtroom.
We are proud of our five-star Google rating, not because of the number but because of the satisfied clients it represents. We treat all our clients like family. Many keep in touch with us long after their cases are resolved. We regularly receive unsolicited client testimonials such as the following:
Founders Bennitta Joseph and Jon Norinsberg bring unique backgrounds to the firm. Bennitta previously worked as a prosecutor in the New York District Attorney’s Office, while Jon has a 25-year track record of success in civil rights litigation. They were also recently named “Best Litigation Attorneys in NYC” by expertise.com.
Case Result: Joseph & Norinsberg obtained a $1,395,000 settlement on behalf an executive in the fashion industry gender discrimination, and sexual harassment.
How Can a New York City Hostile Work Environment Lawyer Help You?
Hostile work environment lawyers in New York City specialize in assisting victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. They can help you navigate the complex legal process, from filing a complaint with the appropriate government agency to representing you in court if necessary.
A skilled NYC workplace harassment attorney will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case on your behalf. They will also negotiate with your employer or its legal team to seek a fair resolution, which may include compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages.
How Do I Prove a Hostile Work Environment Claim in New York?
To prove a hostile work environment claim, you must demonstrate that the harassment or discrimination was unwelcome, based on a protected characteristic, and was severe or pervasive enough to create an abusive working environment. Such behavior can include offensive jokes, slurs, physical threats, or other intimidating behavior based on protected characteristics, such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.
You must also show that your employer knew or should have known about the harassment and failed to take appropriate action to stop it. Experienced NYC attorneys for workplace discrimination cases can help you gather the necessary evidence and build a compelling case.
Criteria for Choosing a Hostile Work Environment Lawyer in NYC
When selecting legal representation for a hostile work environment claim in NYC, look for an attorney with the following:
- Extensive experience handling workplace harassment and discrimination cases
- A track record of success in securing favorable outcomes for clients
- In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws
- Strong negotiation and litigation skills
- Empathy and dedication to fighting for your rights
Our NYC hostile work environment legal team possesses all these qualities and more. We are renowned for providing relentless representation and fighting tirelessly to get clients the justice they deserve.
What Damages Are Available for Victims of Hostile Work Environments in NY?
Victims of hostile work environments in New York may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including:
- Back pay and front pay
- Emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages in cases of particularly egregious conduct
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
Our New York City attorneys for toxic work environment cases have the knowledge and skill needed to assess your situation and determine the full extent of damages you may be eligible to receive. We will fight aggressively to secure fair compensation in your case.
Understanding Hostile Work Environment in New York City
Under federal and state law, a hostile work environment exists when an employee is subjected to severe or pervasive harassment or discrimination based on protected characteristics, such as race, gender, religion, age, or disability. Abusive behavior can include offensive comments, slurs, physical threats, or other intimidating behavior that unreasonably interferes with the employee’s ability to do their job.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark federal law banning workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law generally covers employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations, and higher education institutions.
In New York City, the New York State Human Rights Law, or NYSHRL, and the New York City Human Rights Law, or NYCHRL, provide even broader protections against workplace harassment and discrimination than federal law as they:
- Cover smaller employers: While Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, New York laws cover employers with four or more employees. However, sexual harassment claims can now be pursued against employers with less than four employees.
- Protect more categories: Besides those characteristics protected by federal law, New York laws explicitly prohibit discrimination based on age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, pregnancy, military status, and more. Taking a step further than the NYSHRL, the NYCHRL provides additional protections against discrimination due to an individual’s height or weight.
- Have a lower threshold for harassment claims: Under the NYSHRL and NYCHRL, harassment is actionable if it rises above a “petty slight or trivial inconvenience”—is a lower standard than the “severe or pervasive” requirement under federal law.
- Allow for broader remedies: The NYCHRL does not cap damages, attorney’s fees, and civil penalties, which are limited under Title VII and the NYSHRL.
These expanded protections under New York state and city laws provide employees with additional avenues to seek justice and hold employers accountable for workplace harassment and discrimination.
Contact Joseph & Norinsberg for Your Hostile Work Environment Claim
No employer, regardless of how powerful, can take away your fundamental right to work in an environment free of hostility. If you are experiencing a hostile work environment in New York City, you do not have to suffer. You have legal rights and options.
Our skilled hostile workplace lawyers in NYC are here to help you fight back against harassment and discrimination at work. We have experience resolving all sorts of workplace harassment cases, including:
- Employer retaliation
- Weight discrimination
- Sexual comments
- Disability discrimination
- Age discrimination
- Race discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Verbal abuse at work
With our relentless representation and deep understanding of employment law, we will work tirelessly to hold your employer accountable and secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Don’t suffer in silence for another day. Contact us for a free consultation, either online or over the phone at 212-227-5700, and put our experience and dedication to work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Proof Of Hostile Work Environment in NYC?
If a co-worker or supervisor has created an abusive work environment, gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Examples of hostile work environment evidence include the following:
- Emails
- Texts
- Voice messages
- Handwritten notes
- Witness statements
- Pictures documenting the harassment or abuse
- Written notes, inappropriate pictures or cartoons displayed by a supervisor or co-worker, or any other physical evidence
- Sudden and unwarranted changes in employment patterns, such as a demotion or unfavorable shift assignment, given without cause
Can You Sue For A Hostile Work Environment?
Yes. In NYC, workers have multiple federal, state, and local protections against hostile work environments. An experienced New York employment law attorney can help you determine how to proceed.
What Behaviors Are Considered Criteria For a Hostile Work Environment?
To have a valid hostile work environment claim, you must allege the offensive behavior was based on one of the following protected categories:
- Race
- National origin
- Religion
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Pregnancy
- Age
- Disability
Next, you must establish that the conduct was severe and pervasive enough to constitute abuse. Some examples of behaviors that may create a hostile workplace include the following:
- Unwelcome touching
- Remarks of a sexual nature
- Invading someone’s personal space
- Displaying or sharing pornographic images
- Making inappropriate comments about a person’s appearance
Bennitta Joseph is an experienced New York City sexual assault attorney with over seventeen years of experience litigating cases involving workplace harassment. She takes on cases with uncompromising dedication, patience, and a relentless desire to achieve justice.
Sexual harassment case against a luxury brand in the fashion industry (confidential).
Secured compensation for several years of lost wages, and emotional distress, and compensation for the physical assault.
Sexual harassment case settled against a large bio-tech company.
