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 .

Hostile environment.

Explanation:

A hostile environment is defined as one where the employee is uncomfortable and limits his productivity due to some form of discrimination.

For Charles to file a prima facie case for hostile environment he must

-prove that he was subject to intimidating, offensive, or hostile work environment.

-prove that the situation was created as a result of the plaintiff's protected status.

-prove that an abusive work environment was created, and

-that he perceived his work place to be abusive.

Explanation:

A hostile environment is an environment in which unnecessary and derogatoty comments or behavior based on gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age, have the capability to interfere with an employee’s work productivity or create an environment that intimidates or offense the work environment of the employee who is being harassed. This can cause the employer to be unproductive and damage the self-esteem both in and out of the workplace. This type of hostile environment can be created by a co-worker, a supervisor or manager.

If Charles is going to make a prima facie he has to prove with evidence that he was being offended, harassed, intimidated therebh making the environment hostile and this has caused him to be unproductive

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