A hostile work environment is created by a boss or coworker whose actions, communication or behavior make doing your job impossible. 1  This means that the behavior altered the terms, conditions, and/or reasonable expectations of a comfortable work environment for employees.
11. to exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule a kingdom. 12. to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree. 13. to mark with lines, esp. parallel straight lines, with the aid of a ruler or the like: to rule paper. 14. to mark out or form (a line) by this method.
1 : a rule of conduct or action that a nation or a group of people agrees to follow. 2 : a whole collection of established rules the law of the land. 3 : a rule or principle that always works the same way under the same conditions the law of gravity. 4 : a bill passed by a legislature. 5 : 2police 1.