The first step to take when you face workplace hostility is communicating with the offending party and finding out what the problem is or just a misunderstanding. To have a legal claim against your employer, your work environment must meet specific criteria to meet the definition of a hostile work environment. Browse Our Image Of Resignation Letter Moving Out Of State For Free Resignation Letter Job Cover Letter Resignation Letters In extreme situations, severity outranks longevity and one single event is enough to create a hostile environment. What causes a hostile work environment . A hostile work environment is created by a boss or coworker whose actions, communication, or behavior make doing your job impossible. Misconduct is not limited to any particular role within the workplace, and both peers and supervisors can be offenders. Often this is the result of unwelcomed and unprofessional conduct by another colleague or group of colleagues. Any employee can be responsibl...