Charles,aged 63,was a manager at the Exotic Wood Corp.His supervisor,Dee,frequently made derogatory age-related comments about Charles to other workers.Dee encouraged Charles' co-workers to be uncooperative toward him and not talk to him as she believed that older people gossip a lot and reduce productivity.Charles filed a complaint under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act against Dee.In this case,Charles can make a prima facie case for ________.

Question

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In this case, Charles can make a prima facie case for hostile environment. The Sixth Circuit has articulated the prima facie case for hostile environment under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act:
1. The employee is 40 years old or older.
2. The employee was subjected to harassment, either through words or actions, based on age.
3. The harassment had the effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee's work performance and creating an objectively intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
4. There exists some basis for liability on the part of the employer.
As Charles is over 40 and was subjected to harassment through words and actions based on age, which affected his productivity, and with liability lying on the part of the employer, Dee, he can make a prima facie case for hostile environment.

Charles,aged 63,was a Manager at the Exotic Wood Corp