If an employee's complaints lead to a hostile work environment, what could be the consequence?

In situations where an employee's complaints contribute to a hostile work environment, the consequence that aligns with workplace law is the potential for the employee to have a case for constructive discharge. Constructive discharge occurs when an employee feels compelled to resign due to an intolerable work situation, which is often a result of ongoing harassment or discrimination that the employer fails to address adequately.

In this context, when an employee raises legitimate complaints regarding workplace harassment or discrimination and those issues are not resolved, leading to feelings of distress and an unmanageable work atmosphere, it can create grounds for a legal claim. If the work conditions are so unfavorable that a reasonable person in the employee's position would feel they must resign, this gives rise to a constructive discharge claim.

Other choices suggest outcomes that do not directly relate to the legitimate legal framework surrounding hostile work environments. Termination or promotion outcomes, as mentioned in the other options, are not standard legal consequences tied to an employee's complaints about a hostile environment.