Can my employer insult my appearance and threaten me?
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Can my employer insult my appearance and threaten me?
My boss recently told me I look homeless and made a motion at my face and said
Asked on March 28, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Oregon
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
The fact is that rude and/or insulting behavior while unprofessional, it not in and of itself illegal. That is unless it constitutes some form of legally actionable discrimination (i.e. is based on your race, religion, age (over 40), disability, gender, etc.). So the one area where you may have recourse is if your beard is worn has part of your religion or is due to some type of medical condition. Also, if this treatment violates a term of an employment contract or union agreement, you may have protection. Otherwise, as an "at will" worker, your employer can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit.
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