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What is considered workplace harassment in Missouri?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on April 07, 2026

What is considered workplace harassment in Missouri?

Harassment is defined as unwelcome actions or statements, based on a protected trait (like sex or age), that create a hostile or offensive working environment or that an employee must endure in order to get or keep a job.

Can you sue for hostile work environment in Missouri?

When an employee feels that the culture of the company he or she works for has produced an environment that is not only hostile to his or her career interests but hostile to the employee on a personal and emotional level, the employee may be entitled to sue the company for damages.

What are the most common three forms of harassment on work sites?

1. Discriminatory Harassment

  • I. Racial Harassment. An employee can be harassed because of their race and culture.
  • II. Sexuality-based Harassment. An employee can be harassed because of their sexuality.
  • III. Age-based Harassment.
  • IV. Disability-based Harassment.

What qualifies as harassment in Missouri?

Missouri has criminal statutes that deal with harassment and stalking. The statute is 565.225, RSMo. Harassment is conduct that includes unwanted communication that may be threatening, intimidating, frightening or causes emotional distress to another person.

How do I win a harassment case at work?

To win a harassment lawsuit, you’ll have to prove each of these elements in court.

  1. Protected Characteristic. Legally speaking, harassment is a type of discrimination.
  2. Offensive Conduct.
  3. Unwelcome Conduct.
  4. Severe or Pervasive.
  5. Terms and Conditions of Employment.
  6. Get Legal Help.

Can you sue someone for harassment in Missouri?

You may also be called to testify if charges are filed against the person who harassed you. It is up to the prosecutor whether to file charges. If the prosecutor declines to file criminal charges against your harasser, talk to an attorney. You may be able to file a civil lawsuit.

What is 1st degree harassment in Missouri?

A person commits the offense of harassment in the first degree if he or she, without good cause, engages in any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person, and such act does cause such person to suffer emotional distress. The offense of harassment in the first degree is a class E felony.

Can you sue your boss for emotional distress?

Suing an Employer for the Acts of its Employees An employer can be held legally responsible for an employee’s actions when the conduct that caused the emotional distress is within the scope of the employee’s job, or the employer consented to the conduct.