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What I’ve Been Reading This Week


While I was going to brief a case about a recent hostile work environment lawsuit, I think it is better suited for some light reading to end the week.  I caution readers that while no two hostile work environment claims are the same and each one requires a fact intensive analysis, it is important to remember that sometimes isolated (or limited) instances can still create a hostile work environment.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.



Let’s call this a first world problem situation.  Many readers likely have some version of a work from home setup since Covid first started or perhaps a hybrid setup in recent months.  With the surge in remote work, many workers have taken to trips, vacations, cruises, etc. to enjoy a bit of downtime while also working.  As this article from USA Today notes, there can be hiccups that happen with some remote work setups, including when making a transatlantic trip on a cruise ship.  I highlight this particular article more for the humorous (it not stress inducing) situation the writer experienced in trying to get some work done during the trip.



Recently, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals considered whether a six year old (who was the son of a supervisor and grandson of the employer’s two owners) could create a hostile work environment when he uttered the “n word” several times in reference to a black employee.  While the district court had ruled in favor of the employer in the summary judgment stage, the Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and remanded the case back to the district court.  I refer readers to the attached opinion for a more in depth analysis.  To call this a unique case, in the context of a young child creating a hostile work environment, is an understatement.

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