which of the following is a factor the courts consider when they determine whether a work environment is hostile or abusive?

When courts determine whether a work environment is hostile or abusive, they consider multiple factors including whether the conduct was unwelcome, the frequency of discriminatory conduct, the severity of the conduct, and whether the conduct was physically threatening or humiliating or a mere offensive utterance. They also consider whether the conduct unreasonably interfered with an employee’s work performance and whether the environment would be perceived as hostile or abusive by a reasonable person in the victim's position. The courts assess the totality of circumstances, including the pervasiveness and longevity of the behavior, and the impact on the employee both subjectively and objectively. The conduct must be severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive working environment, often linked to protected characteristics such as race, gender, or other protected categories.