Swearing at work

[Arklight]

A mate\colleague of mine is having a bit of a worry at the moment as he thinks he might be in trouble at work, can the PH knowledgable put his mind at rest.

Whilst having a heated discusion with a person in his dept (very lazy blah blah) he lost his cool a bit and said, "well you cant sit there and do F all all day" now the guy he said it too has said he is going to report him to HR for harrasment and how dare he swear whilst talking to him etc.

Aside from the obvious apology (which the guy doesnt deserve, really does do nothing all day but its public sector and nearly impossible to get rid of someone) could my mate be in a lot of trouble for that?

[okgo]

Good lord, if swearing was something you coudl be dismissed for I think a LOT of businesses would be empty

[Jasandjules]

I'd say you have to be a pretty seriously sensitive individual for that to work.......

Can't imagine HR doing too much about it, and harassment has to be more than once.....

[Austin.J]

I swear constantly, barely know i'm doing it. I've never been pulled up on it. Cant stand the whole "omg you can't say that" ect...

Edited by Austin.J on Monday 24th August 18:52

[Arklight]

Thanks for the repies so far, you all have said pretty much what i thought too. I think he was just worried as the swearing was kind of directed at the guy (as part of the sentance)

far too many sensitive souls out there nowadays.

[Vron]

I disagree. Public Sector isn't exactly the Docks is it? Believe it or not there are still people who are offended by the 'F' word especially if someone barks it at them at work. The guy has found it offensive and has said so.

[okgo]

I agree, but its SO common in this country, it wouldn't get anywhere

[MiniMan64]

Arklight said:

Thanks for the repies so far, you all have said pretty much what i thought too. I think he was just worried as the swearing was kind of directed at the guy (as part of the sentance)

far too many sensitive souls out there nowadays.

Unless he's got someone as a witness, who's to say he said anything at all?

God if we weren't allowed to swear at work the whole company would be sacked by now. It's just a matter of who you do it in front of.

[JonRB]

It's all a matter of context.

If someone said "this code is fked" or "this is retarded" then I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

If some said "you're a fking retard" or "why the fk doesn't this piece of st you wrote work?" then I would probably be quite upset.

[HRG.]

JonRB said:

It's all a matter of context.

If someone said "this code is fked" or "this is retarded" then I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

If some said "you're a fking retard" or "why the fk doesn't this piece of st you wrote work?" then I would probably be quite upset.

Even if the piece of fking st you wrote didn't work?

[JonRB]

HRG. said:

Even if the piece of fking st you wrote didn't work?

If there was an error in my code then obviously I'd want to hear a bug report and I'd go fix it. Tell me it's a piece of st and I'll tell you to go do better yourself.

AND the horse you road in on.

[HRG.]

If I knew your code well enough to tell you it was st I would go and do it for you

[T89 Callan]

I've been asked 'not to swear' a couple of times in various jobs but never have they ever been able to actually reprimand me for it.

Although it was usually just blurted out at an inanimate object rather than directed at a person. The reception didin't like me referring to the corner of her desk as a ""

[DBSV8]

just learn to swear in a different Language

""Piz Det"" ""Beeeeeeleeeeeeeeeeettttttttttt""

[M400 NBL]

WOuld depend on the context for sure. and also how load the person's voice was when he swore.

But I doubt it would be a big problem if it's the first time and he apologised.

[HRG.]

And the workplace... In most blue collar roles swearing is compulsory.

[Dupont666]

In all places I have worked swearing and gentle humiliation are the norm, if you dont like it fk off... they dont take it to the extreme, but it difuses a very stressful workplace fast.

Stuff like the Dutch guy going home to holand for the weekend, he boasts that his mum does his washing that he takes back (hes 30+) and he left his bag unattended, so we put a gimp costume in there complete with ball gag.

The tech guys that annoy you by fking with your computer, so you put some agar gel and grass seed in their keyboard on the friday and come in to a nice lush keyboard on monday type of thing.

As for swearing, think of the film 'In the Loop' but at level 5 and not the full level 11 as per the film.