Legal Definitions - stray remarks

Definition: Stray remarks are statements made by a coworker or supervisor about an employee's race, sex, age, national origin, or other status that are offensive but do not represent harassment or discrimination by the employer. These remarks are considered stray because they are sporadic, unsystematic, and unofficial, and do not show any intention to harm the employee's employment.

Example: A coworker makes a joke about a female employee's appearance, but it is not a regular occurrence and does not affect her ability to do her job. This would be considered a stray remark.

Explanation: The example illustrates a stray remark because the comment was not made with the intention of discriminating against the employee or creating a hostile work environment. It was a one-time occurrence and did not affect the employee's ability to do her job.