What characterizes a hostile work environment?

A hostile work environment is characterized primarily by harassment that creates an intimidating or abusive atmosphere for employees. This type of environment undermines an individual's ability to perform their job effectively and can include offensive remarks, unwanted sexual advances, or other forms of discrimination and hostility. Such harassment is often pervasive enough that it affects the emotional or psychological well-being of employees, which can lead to significant negative impacts on their job performance and overall workplace morale.

In contrast, the other options describe different workplace issues but do not encapsulate the legal definition of a hostile work environment. The absence of teamwork, for instance, can affect collaboration but does not inherently involve harassment or an abusive atmosphere. Similarly, excessive workloads may lead to burnout, yet this situation does not necessarily stem from harassment or discrimination. Finally, criticism of work from management, while it can create discomfort, does not meet the threshold for creating a hostile environment unless it is delivered in an aggressive or abusive manner. Therefore, the definition of a hostile work environment is most accurately captured by the aspect of harassment that creates an intimidating or abusive atmosphere.