"You're Cursing At Work? Are you F&@#$ng Kidding Me?" - 12/05/18 Edition
Stephen Says Column

 Dear Stephen:

 
 What is your opinion on curse words in the office? 
 
 It seems that my boss and a number of my colleagues are frequently swearing. This is not everyone mind you but I have noticed it being a pattern with my boss and I believe that it has trickled down to some of my co-workers. It is always arbitrary - never a legitimate exclamation - just a bad word thrown into an otherwise normal sentence, for good measure. 
 
 Sometimes I feel that my female colleagues do it just to fit in. Most of my co-workers have children at home and I doubt that they would speak this way around the house.
 
 Personally, I do not like to be around people who curse, either at home or at work. I feel like people are polluting me with their language and it is simply uncomfortable. On top of this, our company has a very clear code of ethics and language at work is very clearly written into it. Certain people seem just not to care.
 
 I do not want to be that crazy lady who complains about the foul words (especially since my boss is involved) but I am uncomfortable with it all. How do I handle this situation? Am I wrong?
 
 Signed,
 Not so Crazy Church Lady
 

There are many documented cases of people getting fired for swearing in the office.

 
 Dear Church Lady,
 
 You are not wrong for one simple reason: If I am hearing you correctly, your company has a code of ethics or a “No-swear policy” and if these are the laws of your workplace then nobody should be swearing.
 
 But I am curious to know about the audience and the intent of the language. If your boss or your colleague throws in a swear word here and there to spice up a statement, or if someone swears from frustration at a broken printer; to me that’s a far cry from launching into an aggressive tirade, or swearing in the presence of a customer. I’m not saying any type of swearing is acceptable, but you have to admit there are degrees of crude-
 
 ness, and some are easier to take then others. Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between the generic four letter words and downright vulgar and offensive language.
 
 There are many documented cases of people getting fired for swearing in the office. Sometimes this is simply for frequent violation of company policy. Often though, I have seen people get the boot for cursing out a customer or colleague. This is of course wholly unacceptable behavior, but you would be surprised at how often it happens. Occasionally it is done in some hysteric fit of anger but more often than not it is just a bad joke with terrible and unintended consequences. Let us not forget that swearing at work can easily cross the line into bullying or harassment, especially if it is directed at an individual.
 
 Moreover, cursing tends to hamper one’s image. People simply find it tacky, classless and just plain annoying. The office curse machine often comes off as stupid and abrasive. More than the literal consequences, it is just a bad reputation to have.
 
 The bottom line is that swearing in the office is simply a bad idea. In my opinion, curse words should simply never be a part of your identity, be it at work or at home. Is that really how you want people to think of you?
 
 Stephen