A hostile work environment claim involves the allegation of enough wrongful workplace conduct to alter the conditions of your employment and your ability to perform your job. For a claim based upon sexual harassment, that would include sexually offensive actions and behaviors and harassing conduct that would justify your leaving your job, and justify deeming your leaving the job to be involuntary.

An employee who is being sexually harassed, or who is working in an environment that involves sexually offensive conduct, should follow company procedures to report the problem and to make a complaint. The employer's duty to stop the problem only begins once it is aware that a problem exists. If the employer refuses to act, or takes inadequate measures, the employee should consult an employment lawyer.