Swearing in the workplace - possible warning?

agnes

agnes

agnes

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Another thread before sleep, new boss, team of 6 in IT. All real close so the new boss is the new guy. However he was our info sec guy for 6 months before hand. So we knew him.

He is ok, waving authority to staff to prove him self as usual, however, in this small friendly team, we have ways of talking to each other and making jokes.

My bad habbit, is swearing! Not offensively, or in a nasty way. Such as: "this computer is *poo*".

"My car is *rogered*.

Now, no one has ever complained before. But, new boss, being difficult and contradicting as he swears him self, only much less frequently asked me and others to tone it down.

No problem, only I keep slipping here and there but in the sake of sowing him respect i do correct my self and apologise. Today he was in the lift, just us. He looked dead serious and said "hows your day going?" I replied "not bad, *poo* tons to do though". Then apologised, to which he said "I think it's time I take a firm approach to this, I will be dishing out verbal and if needed further warnings if this doesn't stop".

Can he actually do that? Thankfully, new boss, all 6 of us are noting everything he says that we don't like down on paper. As you know, new bosses = clearing of dead wood first.

Also, he is seriously trying to turn us against each other, it's almost funny.

Our exchange contractor has been denied a extension on his contract and while the guy is great at his job, I don't like him personally, but I get on with him for the sake of everyone else. Sort of a mutual thing between us. Anyway, new boss pulled me to one side and said "did that make you happy? Bet you are pleased he is going? you are going to be so happy won't you?" All while I just smiled and said, "sad, he works well" and walked off. He tried doing a similar thing between me and another co worker, we text each other the discussions and it's almost disgusting how badly he is trying to cause situations from drama.
 
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Doubtful.

If they cut swearing out from our place, it would be a pretty quiet environment. Thank fully I work with normal people and not jumped up *****s.
 
talk to your personnel muppet and ask if he can do this and what the company policy is.

or you could talk to his boss as a group and say the new guys being a jumped up little idiot trying to cause trouble.
 
To be fair, asking to tone it down isn't exactly an unreasonable request, although seemingly an unnecessary one.

Seems like he's trying to stamp down his authority on all of you, which seems to be what a lot of new bosses do, especially those who are ex-military or who have risen through the ranks and don't want you to look at them as still part of the team, so to speak.
 
Tricky one, i.e. if your swearing in potential ear shot of customers then he can justifiably issue a disciplinary for it. But if its inside the office and not directly aimed at a person then he would have a hard time justifying firing someone for it. (depending a bit on whats written into your contract).
 
So basically you have a well functioning team that gets on well with each other, has a bit of banter that probably helps you get through the day and you have a new boss that wants to put a stop to it? Sounds like he's good at his job.

I've never had a warning, but I reckon I'd probably just quit if I got one, as I'd read it as a sign of things to come. Hope its not though. :)
 
Honestly? You seem to forget you're in a place of work. If you're being told to tone it down then rightfully you should. The instance where you swore in the lift is quite understandable from your boss' perspective.

Sure it isn't nice and might pee you off if it's become the norm, but a new boss will always bring in some changes you like or dislike.

As for him trying to cause trouble among yourselves, well thats another matter.
 
Problem is with this line of *******ness is that its a double edged sword.

Every time he swears at you in front of fellow employees now he is "degrading you" and that is something you are protected from in the work place.

So keep a little log, when you've got a couple of instances wander off to personal and complain about bullying in the work place.
 
I would never dear use a swear word to my boss or higher staff. Yes me and my colleagues will swear about things and its not a problem. But I do look at what you said as impolite and rude.
 
aln said:
So basically you have a well functioning team that gets on well with each other, has a bit of banter that probably helps you get through the day and you have a new boss that wants to put a stop to it? Sounds like he's good at his job.
Click to expand...

Is the last sentence in this serious? Or did you forget the roll-eyes smiley?
 
Sounds like the type of boss who likes to bend over backwards to **** his staff off? Maybe he's been told to cut back on staff, so making their work-lives a misery and getting them to leave on their own accord (no redundancy payments)? Always use petty things, you get the highest success rate.
 
both of you are ***** to be honest.

Id try and tone it down for my own sake but he is over reacting too.
 
My boss curses at everything, I find it catches on as everyone starts swearing then :p

It's healthy now and again, to let off some steam, aslong as there is no client visitors about, or your not on the phone, then I dont see the harm.

As mentioned, working in IT and not managing to get stressed out sometimes is very difficult :p
 
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