Language Does More: “swearing”
Swearing in the workplace - who the F cares?
Even with all the negative connotations associated with people who swear, a recent study has even shown the positive effects of swearing, like increased tolerance for unpleasant feelings, and higher emotional and linguistic intelligence. But despite these benefits, swear words, particularly those used in the workplace, are still taboo.
There appears to be limited research on the reasons that many perceive swearing in a work setting to be unprofessional, but it could stem from a few possibilities. For starters, swearing is used frequently in casual conversations, and thus bringing it into the workplace may seem odd as it would create a casual atmosphere. Alternatively, many people also find swearing to be offensive. A workplace needs to be a place that everyone can feel welcome to share their ideas and take up space, but if swearing is common in a company, it has the possibility of making some people uncomfortable and discouraging them from being involved.
There are also certain societal connotations connected to the types of people who use swear words. According to the National Library of Medicine, men tend to use swear words more frequently than women, likely because it is more socially acceptable for men to show anger. When women show anger, especially if coupled with the use of expletives, a woman may be perceived as “bitchy”, crazy, or dramatic.
So when is it okay to swear? While there is no law against swearing in the workplace, it is completely context dependent. Many businesses have rules against using foul language, and many higher ups still tend to frown upon swearing in the workplace, deeming it crass and unprofessional. Just a quick google search for information about swearing in the workplace produces website after website with explanations of why employees should avoid swearing and how negatively their co-workers or employers could perceive it.
However, depending on the company culture, swearing does not always have to be a bad thing. Outside of work, many people swear around friends or loved ones, so swearing from time to time at work around co-workers could create more friend-like dynamic in the workplace.
Additionally, dropping a swear word here and there can add emphasis, as was found in a study from 2012, and makes a conversation seem less formal. As long as employees aren’t swearing at each other, an occasional f-bomb could even be beneficial. A prominent reason that people swear in the first place is to alleviate both physical and emotional pain in stressful situations, so it only makes sense that occasions could arise in the workplace when it could feel good to swear. Following this same logic, Gong Labs found that swearing can actually increase sales up to 20% - some of the reasons for the increase being the alleviation of discomfort, humor, and interpersonal connection that swearing brings to a conversation.
All that being said, the “how to” of navigating swearing in the workplace appears to be opaque. While it is less stigmatized over time with younger generations joining the corporate scene, not all companies have the same policies regarding foul language. So linguistic context becomes extremely important, here: swear when it will be good for you career-wise, and don’t swear when it won’t. That may seem like hard advice to follow, but actually humans a really good at assessing social context and deciding when it’s a good idea to swear and when it isn’t. Just ask your 12 year old son, who swears like a sailor with his friends at the skate park but would *never* talk to you that way.
