warning at work for swearing

[Slavetolove]

I was called into the office for a warning the other day. I'm a support worker and was speaking to another member of staff when clients were in their bedroom. I can't even remember the conversation at all but I think I said the world fuck/fuck off but not towards the staff member, it was just in conversation.

I swear, but I'm strict on myself to not swear in front of clients. The member of staff reported me. I was ripped a new one. Because the clients were in the house it was meant it was around them and because its their house. The owner had a huge go at me saying there would be no way I would be allowed to swear in his house.
one member of staff said she said "bloody hell" in front of a client yesterday but nothing was said.
im so embarrassed. I'm bloody good at my job.

[tttigress]

I personally wouldn't have reported you, but I think swearing in all work places is becoming increasingly frowned on. I don't really see what the client's or if you swore directly at your colleague have got to do with it.

I would have thought saying fuck in the work place was not a good idea whatever the context.

[loveandkindness]

What a sly little snitch that member of staff is. It sounds like it was a one-off. You sound like a nice person, someone who obviously cares or you wouldn't be contrite now.

I hate snitchers!

[Benjispruce5]

You got a reprimand, not the sack. Put it behind you and move on.

[Suzanne999]

As you can see, it was inappropriate. Learn from it and move on. If you feel it will close the episode speak to the business owner again, say you’re sorry, you realise it was wrong and will never do it again. If you love your job and you’re good at it, they won’t want to lose you.

[WhoWants2Know]

I've caught staff doing much worse in residents homes.

[brushandmop]

In my workplace, its swearwords non stop. Not at each other but in general. It's a professional setting but no clients in house so its just the team members. It's a bit precious to report you for one word.

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

God, he'd hate working where I do. We eff and blind like sailors. I don't remember the last time we went a day without someone being called a cunt.

[SivvyPlath]

You colleague sounds like a jobsworth

Totally agree

[Cactusandmarshmallows]

This thread is a reminder for me to swear less. I find the more I do it the easier it is to accidentally slip into the wrong conversations. I know others are better on that front but im not

[Comedycook]

You were very wrong to swear in that situation but I wouldn't have reported you

[LettertoHermoine]

Ridiculous! Bad luck to the one who reported you.

[billy1966]

What an awful colleague to do that OP.

Learn from it and watch your back around that awful colleague.

[Jng1]

I think a lot of (younger?) people don't understand how offensive people (especially older people) find swearing. I hate it. It always sounds coarse, aggressive and angry and it makes me feel slightly unsafe (might be to do with the people who swore around me as a child?).

Definitely unprofessional and you need to work on making sure it doesnn't happen again. Perhaps your colleague didn't feel able to address it directly with you, but felt they needed to report it in case it happened in front of the client next time and they made a formal complaint?

[Iamkmackered1979]

I think swearing at work isn’t nice, sounds horrible however I work with kids in a health setting so it’s a def no no except in the tea room after a really hellish shift sometimes.

Hope you feel better op, it’s done snd I bet it never happens again, move on and forget about it.

[Luckymummytoone]

I wish my colleagues would get a warning! The swearing is awful. HCP too so yes I agree, sorry!

[SamMil]

You're in a vulnerable person's house to help take care of them. I'm sure hearing people effing and blinding from the other room isn't particularly soothing for them, or reassuring about the type of people in their home.

I think your work are correct to be strict on this.

[AutumnLeaves21]

Gobsmacked at the voting results op! Can’t believe you were reported. Your colleague needs to get a grip, it’s a word you never murdered anyone.

[Lalliella]

Your colleague is a grass and a knob. I wouldn’t trust them again after that. Yes you shouldn’t have done it but it’s hardly crime of the century.

[GucciBear]

About time swearing became a no no and not a go to! By the way, your comment about ........... a new one is very coarse. Probably best if you don't trot that out whilst at work!!

[SGChome20]

Hang on, so no clients heard this yet your colleague still felt it necessary to report you??? That seems absolutely nuts to me and I’d be quite offended that they couldn’t just say ‘Susan, shut up, you know that’s not appropriate’

[RandomUsernameHere]

Was it within earshot of the client though? If not then I think the reactions of your colleague/manager are over the top. People swear in my office all the time.

[topcat2014]

I am intrigued by these colleagues that run to tell teacher..

But, OP, I am afraid in your sector it is probably bang to rights.

Mind you, I used to work in a factory setting where polite language began with an F, and it was just C words that were frowned upon.

[eightlivesdown]

Overreaction and don't think much of the colleague who reported you. It's not as if you swore at the clients, or even within their earshot, or at your colleague..

[DroopyClematis]

If you're in a client's home then you really should be minding your language.

Maybe your colleague hates swearing?

Take the reprimand and move on.

[audweb]

@harper30

I completely disagree with PPs, if you swore in that context, I don't see why your work care. I swear all the time at work as long as I'm only with colleagues and it's not about someone or at someone.
I wouldn't worry about it, obviously your work are super uptight you'll just have to be careful in future but don't feel bad about it!

They were in someone’s house. That’s why it’s not acceptable.

Listen I worked in care for years. Swearing in the office fair game, swearing in someone’s house even if they were in a different room, not on. They might have been able to hear. Just accept it and move on.