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.
regulate -Merriam Webster's Dictionary (transitive verb) 1  a : to govern or direct according to rule. b (1) : to bring under the control of law or constituted authority. 2  to bring order, method, or uniformity to (regulate one's habits) 3  to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of (regulate the pressure of a tire)