Am I Being Harassed at Work?

If you're being bullied, mistreated, or working in a hostile environment, you might be experiencing harassment. But here’s the thing — not all harassment is illegal. For harassment to be unlawful, the law says it has to be tied to certain protected characteristics like your gender, race, religion, disability, or a few others.

 

So, What Counts as Unlawful Harassment?

Unlawful harassment happens when someone targets you with offensive or inappropriate behavior because of things like your:

• Gender

• Race

• Religion

• Age (over 40)

• National origin

• Disability

• Sexual orientation

 

If that behavior is severe or happens often, and it’s based on one of those characteristics, it likely crosses the line into unlawful harassment.

 

What About Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful harassment — and it’s definitely illegal.
Things like:

• Unwanted touching

• Inappropriate comments

• Crude jokes

 

Those are never okay at work, and you do not have to tolerate them.

 

What Is a Hostile Work Environment?

In legal terms, a hostile work environment is just another way of saying unlawful harassment. If the environment you're working in feels toxic, offensive, or degrading — and it's tied to a protected characteristic — you may have a claim.

 

Is Workplace Bullying Illegal?

Not always. If someone’s just a jerk to everyone, that’s probably not unlawful. But if the bullying is tied to your race, gender, disability, or other protected trait, that’s when it becomes illegal harassment.

 

But What If They Say It Was Just a Joke?

Doesn’t matter. The law focuses on how it made you feel, not what the person meant. If it was offensive to you and made your workplace feel uncomfortable or hostile, it can still be harassment — even if they were “just joking.”

 

I Feel Like I Have to Laugh It Off Just to Get By. Is That a Problem?

Not at all. Many employees feel pressure to play along just to keep the peace or avoid rocking the boat. That doesn’t mean the behavior was welcome or okay. If you felt uncomfortable or demeaned, it still counts.

 

Can I Be Fired for Complaining?

Unfortunately, yes — but that would likely be illegal retaliation, and you may have a separate claim for that. The law protects you when you speak up about harassment.

 

I’m an At-Will Employee. Does That Matter?

Nope. Whether you’re at-will or not, you’re protected. Harassment is illegal for all employees.

 

How Do I Prove It — and What Happens If I Win?

The strongest cases often involve direct evidence — like offensive emails, texts, comments, or witness statements.

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If your claim is successful, you could be awarded:

• Lost wages and benefits

• Emotional distress damages

• Attorney’s fees

• Sometimes even punitive damages (extra compensation to punish the employer)
   

Can Mahanaim Law Help?

Absolutely.  We’ve helped employees across Massachusetts stand up to discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, disability harassment, and more. We don’t just know the law — we care, and we’re here to support you.

 

What Should I Do Next?

If you think you’ve been the victim of workplace harassment or bullying in Massachusetts, contact us to schedule a free consultation. Don’t wait — harassment claims have strict deadlines and missing them can mean losing your right to take action.

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