[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I'm not so sure it matters that it only happened once. Being threatened with violence in the workplace is usually something not looked upon lightly and usually results in the person making the threats being dismissed.

There are no Federal "hostile work environment laws" or "hostile workplace laws" named as such. Creating a hostile workplace is prohibited under certain Federal discrimination laws (listed below).

Subsequently, to be illegal under one of the laws in the eyes of the courts, a hostile work environment typically must be caused by discriminatory workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetics, age or sex; or it must be caused by retaliation in violation of a discrimination law.

Reservists and veterans are protected from a hostile work environment based on their military service, but under a different law. For more information, see Employment Discrimination for Military Service.

Additionally, the harassment typically must be intentional, severe, recurring and pervasive, and interfere with an employee's ability to perform his or her job whether victim or witness.

Lastly, the victim or witnesses typically must reasonably believe that tolerating the hostile work environment is a condition of continued employment. In other words, the victim or witnesses typically must reasonably believe that they have no choice, but to endure a hostile workplace in order to keep their jobs.

http://employeeissues.com/hostile_work_environment.htm