Yes. California’s workplace laws extend protections against hostile and unsafe work environments, which can include excessive stress and anxiety from having to work in these unsafe conditions.
When work and its related strains cause you undue stress and anxiety, it can make an already poor work environment even more hostile and unsafe. Eventually, this stress and anxiety can manifest into other struggles and illnesses. These ailments and other adverse reactions can then lead to other work-related stresses and further harassment. Thus, stress and anxiety can lead to a vicious cycle of hostility and harassment in the workplace. While this can be a reality for you, it’s also important to understand that this treatment in the workplace is illegal under California law.
Free Consultations for California Hostile Work Environment Victims
If you are feeling stressed at work, you are not alone. Attorney Martin Gasparian founded Maison Law to stand up for the legal protections of California workers. Our team of experienced, compassionate employment lawyers can help you understand your rights and hold your employer accountable for causing you emotional distress. If your work environment is becoming increasingly more hostile to the point it’s causing you undue stress and anxiety, contact us today for a free consultation to find out what you can do about it.
Major Causes of Workplace Stress and Anxiety in California
An employee can experience workplace stress if they suffer any physical or emotional distress because of workplace demands and the lack of control one has over those demands.
- Job insecurity
- Increasing or unreasonable demands
- Unsatisfactory pay or benefits
- Feeling threatened or intimidated at work
- Feeling physically or emotionally unsafe
- Workplace discrimination, including derogatory remarks, actions, or crude and rude humor directed at you and your protected characteristics
- Sexual harassment
- Workplace or employer misconduct
- Tension between you and your coworkers because of your complaints about the hostile work environment
Naturally, if your job is causing you extreme stress and anxiety, it’s going to affect your performance and motivation. More than that, though, stress and anxiety will begin to impact your health, causing the following:
- Illness
- Depression
- Absenteeism
- Alcohol or drug use
Over time, these factors can be a root cause of struggles in your personal life outside of work, and even result in death. Because the stakes are so high, it’s important to understand your rights as an employee. Part of that is understanding what legal protections you have in California from undue stress and anxiety.
What Does California Law Say About Stress and Anxiety in the Workplace?
There are two main laws in place that protect California employees from undue stress and anxiety in the workplace:
CRFA
The CRFA provides you and other California employees that have worked at their job for more than a year up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to to care for serious health conditions or children. Thus, any medical or emotional problems created by the stress and anxiety of the hostile work environment would be applicable.
FEHA
The FEHA not only protects you from discrimination but also workplace harassment. Usually, harassment and discrimination are locked together. Harassment is usually understood to be any unwelcome behavior or conduct that is based upon the employee’s protected characteristics. Harassing behavior occurs whenever an employer creates or encourages an offensive or hostile work environment for you, which can cause undue stress and anxiety.
Workers’ Compensation
California also has laws in place that require your employer to provide workers’ compensation insurance, which is designed for workplace injuries. In certain instances, workers comp can be used for workplace-induced stress and anxiety. Making a stress and anxiety claim for workers comp must be supported by detailed testimony from your doctor, which will include a thorough review of your:
- Medical background
- Developmental history
- Job satisfaction
- Performance reviews
This testimony could also include depositions, statements from your co-workers, personal records, psychoanalysis testing results, academic and military records, and even interviews with your family members to provide proof that your stress and anxiety is being caused by your work environment.
Can I Sue My Employer For Stress and Anxiety in California?
As you are probably aware, just because there are laws against a hostile work environment in California doesn’t prevent them from occurring. Oftentimes, a hostile work environment presents gradually, first with innocuous comments, then increasing to consistent unwanted behavior that ultimately forces you to quit. In legal terms, this is known as “constructive discharge.” Even if you quit your job because of the hostile work environment, you still have legal rights.
It’s important to understand that when undue stress and anxiety is being caused by a hostile work environment, you have the right to sue your employer for damages, even if you still work for them. Filing a lawsuit against your employer takes courage, but with the right team behind you, it can provide you the vital support you need. In a hostile work environment lawsuit, you could potentially recover the following damages:
- Lost wages
- Back pay
- Loss of benefits
- Costs related to emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of dignity and mental anguish.
Obviously, if the stress and anxiety you are experiencing at work is bleeding over into your personal life, you should take whatever steps necessary to get healthy. This includes seeking treatment and following the advice of medical or psychological professionals. While our team can help you recover monetary damages, your mental and physical health should always be your number one priority.
Dedicated and Compassionate California Employment Lawyers
At Maison Law, we know how difficult work can be, especially if the environment is toxic and hostile. If your work environment is causing you extreme stress and anxiety, we’re here to stand up for your rights. We can handle the day-to-day responsibilities of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Getting better takes time, but with our team of dedicated and compassionate California employment lawyers working for you, it can alleviate some of your stress. To get started with a free consultation, contact us today.
