Phillip is a senior citizen from the neighborhood who is allowed to visit the Serenity Senior Center even though he is neither a paying resident nor an employee. Every week, Phillip yells derogatory comments about Asians to Lastri, an Indonesian employee. He pretends to lose his balance and falls against her. He tells the residents that she is not qualified for her job and needs to be more careful around senior citizens. Lastri complains to her supervisor who tells her to ignore Phillip because he is just a strange old man. Lastri files a complaint of national origin discrimination.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Serenity Senior Center is liable for Phillip's harassment of Lastri because she is an employee and his behavior is causing a hostile work environment. The fact that Phillip is not a paying customer or employee does not absolve Serenity of liability. The supervisor's response of telling Lastri to ignore Phillip is not an appropriate action to prevent harassment in the workplace. Harassment does not need to be severe or pervasive to be considered illegal, it only needs to create a hostile work environment, which in this case, it clearly does. Therefore, Serenity is liable for Phillip's behavior towards Lastri.

Phillip Is a Senior Citizen from the Neighborhood Who Is