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Hostile Work Environment

Hostile Work Environment

By: Derek Smith and Dawn Demaio
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Welcome to Hostile Work Environment, the podcast where top legal experts break down workplace rights, discrimination, sexual harassment, and employment law in real-world terms. Hosted by Derek Smith, owner of Derek Smith Law Group, and Dawn Demaio, Head of HR with over a decade of experience, this show dives deep into the legal side of toxic workplaces, employee rights, and workplace misconduct. With over 30 years of legal expertise, our hosts explore real cases, legal insights, and expert interviews with attorneys, HR professionals, and employees who have faced workplace challenges. Whether you're dealing with a hostile boss, workplace discrimination, or simply want to understand your rights, we're here to educate, inform, and empower. Join us for candid conversations, legal advice, and the latest updates on employment law because everyone deserves a safe, fair, and respectful workplace. - Learn your rights - Hear real workplace stories - Get expert legal insights Subscribe now and take control of your workplace experience!Copyright 2025 Derek Smith and Dawn Demaio Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The Diddy Trial: Expert Harassment Attorneys Deep Dive into the Case
    Jun 12 2025

    In this episode of The Hostile Work Environment Podcast, employment law experts Derek Smith and Dawn DeMaio dive deep into the explosive allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs and what it reveals about sexual harassment, power, and retaliation in high-profile cases.

    From analyzing the legal weight of NDAs to exposing the dangerous silence around workplace harassment, this episode gives you a front-row seat to how top attorneys interpret major legal controversies.


    Learn:


    How civil vs. criminal cases work in high-profile lawsuits

    What makes a pattern of abuse legally compelling

    Why women delay reporting—and how courts handle that

    The truth about retaliation, intimidation, and legal recourse


    📢 Whether you’re a lawyer, survivor, HR professional, or just someone who wants to understand how power operates in the legal system—this episode is for you.🛡️ At Derek Smith Law Group, we fight for victims of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in New York, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and D.C


    📞 Call for a free consultation: (800) 807-2209🌐 Learn more at: https://www.dereksmithlaw.com


    👉 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more hard-hitting legal knowledge and expert insight.


    #diddy #diddytrial #diddycourtcase #diddycourtcase #diddyallegations #seancombs #casebreak #knowyourrights #HostileWorkEnvironmentPodcast

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    44 mins
  • How to Fight Harassment + The $1.8M Philly Case That Made History
    May 12 2025

    In this powerful episode of Hostile Work Environment, Derek and Dawn dive deep into the fundamentals of workplace harassment—what it is, how to identify it, and what legal standards apply. Then, they’re joined by special guest Ian Bryson, senior trial attorney at the Derek Smith Law Group, who walks us through his landmark $1.8 million jury verdict against the City of Philadelphia—the largest sexual harassment and retaliation verdict in the city’s history.

    From defining “quid pro quo” and “constructive discharge” to breaking down the McDonnell-Douglas burden-shifting analysis, this episode unpacks the legal tools available to employees who are facing toxic, discriminatory workplaces.


    🧠 What You’ll Learn:
    • What legally constitutes workplace harassment
    • How to prove retaliation and adverse action
    • The difference between a hostile work environment and just a bad boss
    • How courts analyze discrimination using the McDonnell-Douglas framework
    • What made the $1.8M Philly police department case so historic
    • Why reporting harassment is critical—and how to protect yourself


    👤 Special Guest:

    Ian Bryson – Trial Attorney at Derek Smith Law Group


    Lead counsel in the $1.8M verdict against the City of Philadelphia involving retaliation and sexual harassment of two female police officers.

    ⚖️ Key Legal Concepts Covered:
    • Hostile Work Environment
    • Quid Pro Quo Harassment
    • Retaliation & Adverse Employment Actions
    • Constructive Discharge
    • Temporal Proximity
    • Employer Negligence vs. Supervisor Liability

    📞 Need Help?

    If you’ve experienced workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation—don’t wait.


    📲 Call now: (800) 807-2209

    🌐 Visit: www.dereksmithlaw.com

    🎧 Subscribe & Follow:

    Don’t miss future episodes of Hostile Work Environment. We bring real legal talk, expert advice, and raw conversations that could change your life or someone you care about.

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    1 hr
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