Ensuring an harassment-free work zone is something employers strive every day to do. However, there are cases where a work environment will cause employees to leave or even file complaints.

Attorneys say they get calls all the time about harassment and they're broken up into two kinds. Some are protected under state and federal law, but some don't meet the requirement.

"Age, race, gender disability are all protected under both state and federal law. On the other hand, if you're being harassed at work just cause the boss doesn't like you, you don't have the same kind of protections," said Allan Karlin of Allan N. Karlin & Associates.

Some employees find that they're trapped in a hostile work environment and work becomes something of a nightmare.

Senior Investigator for the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Jacqueline Sikora, says not wanting to show up for work, having a fear of going to work and feeling uncomfortable are common acts of being a victim of harassment.

"Behavior that's ongoing, behavior that causes someone to feel uncomfortable in their specific location or unwelcome conduct. Or conduct that makes an employee feel like they don't want to come to work or that they maybe are in fear of someone else," said Sikora.

Illegal forms of harassment include all kinds of diversity and many people don't realize just how common these cases truly are.

"The most illegal forms of harassment; race, gender, disability, age and religion are really far more common than people realize," said Karlin.

Harassment in the workplace doesn't only include employer to employee situations and unfortunately, it can be seen in almost any kind of environment.

"We see it not only in the employer-employee situation, but we see it in teacher-student relationships, we see it in lawyers and their clients, we see it in doctors and their patients," said Karlin.

If you feel as though you're a victim of workplace harassment the WVU Division of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is a great resource that can give you the help you need.

If you fear walking into work, feel uncomfortable at work or unwelcomed you might be a victim of workplace harassment. Many people don't know if their case is valid or falls under state and federal law, so attorneys encourage you to talk with an attorney to learn what success your case may have.