What are the elements of a hostile work environment claim?

A hostile work environment claim is fundamentally built upon the presence of hostile actions directed at an individual based on a protected characteristic, such as race, gender, religion, or disability. For a claim to be substantiated, the actions must be severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or abusive work atmosphere. This criterion ensures that the focus is on the behavior that creates the hostile environment, which is intrinsically linked to discrimination or harassment related to those protected traits.

In contrast, the other options do not relate to the legal foundation of a hostile work environment claim. A promise of promotion and consistent team-building activities are workplace dynamics that, while important, do not inherently involve the discriminatory or hostile actions necessary for such a claim. Acknowledgment of good performance can contribute to a positive workplace culture, but it also lacks the critical aspect of hostile actions or discrimination based on a protected characteristic. Consequently, only the second option accurately encapsulates the key elements of a hostile work environment claim as understood within employment law.