Which factor do the courts consider when determining whether a work environment is hostile or abusive?

• A. The age of employees
• B. The reaction of a reasonable person in the victim's position
• C. The company's profits
• D. The severity of the crime

Answer: (B)

Courts judge whether a work environment is hostile or abusive by asking whether a reasonable person in the victim’s position would find the conduct hostile or abusive. This uses an objective standard to gauge how the behavior would be perceived in typical circumstances, while the plaintiff’s own experience can illustrate the impact. The other factors listed don’t fit this evaluation—age of employees, company profits, or the severity of the crime aren’t how harassment claims are measured. The heart of the test is the reaction a reasonable person in the victim’s position would have to the conduct.