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.

[ArthurTudor]

Going against the grain here...I might be wrong but you swore during a conversation to a colleague, (not at the colleague) the clients could not/did not hear.

I don't think it's a big deal. You colleague sounds like a jobsworth

[Seashor]

I think they’re being a bit high handed on you. Your colleague didn’t have to report you, they could easily have just said something to you at the time. No one else heard. You clearly didn’t mean to do it, you sound very upset about it but I honestly think, no harm done. I’d be upset too but please try to move on or think ‘fuck em’ and leave!

[AnyFucker]

Lesson learned then. Let it go now.

[iklboodolphrednosedpaindear]

one member of staff said she said "bloody hell" in front of a client yesterday but nothing was said

Bloody hell is nowhere as bad as fuck / fuck off!

[Tal45]

It's probably not ideal although I assume you knew no one would hear as they were in their bedrooms.

First I wonder why the staff member didn't just say to you 'don't swear' they didn't really need to dob you in for this IMO as it wasn't in front of clients and secondly I don't know why the manager had a huge go at you - that's not a professional way to handle anything!! Pretty ironic to be unprofessional in his handling of someone being unprofessional. He should have told you swearing was not appropriate at work and to not do it again or given you a warning but 'having a go' at you is not the way to handle it.

[EightWheelGirl]

If nobody but your colleague heard or cared then she’s being a bit of a knobhead IMO.

[MrsTimRiggins]

Oh dear. I guess it’s because you know really you’re in the wrong but the attempted deflecting is so childish. Sorry you’ve had a bad day but I’m not surprised you had a warning.

[Slavetolove]

iv never sworn, especially around clients! I can't think of anything worse.

[LonginesPrime]

Because the clients were in the house it was meant it was around them and because its their house.

That's fair enough - lesson learned.

I know it feels shit to be told off, but it's not a judgement on all the other aspects of your job that you do well - just that one thing you need to rethink.

I would swear at work in private informal situations with colleagues who also swear, but never in more formal/public situations or anywhere a client/visitor/work experience student, etc might hear me. I'd definitely expect to be disciplined if I did.

[AnyFucker]

You mean you’ve never sworn before at your place of work or never got into trouble for it ?

[grapewine]

Yeah, that's not OK.

[Slavetolove]

I do see the problem! I'm just so embarrassed. Its never happened before.

[Helpstopthepain]

Your manager is right, you swore in a clients home which isn’t acceptable.

It’s concerning that you don’t see the problem.

[AnyFucker]

You deserved it, sorry

[Floralnomad]

You should be embarrassed, it is thoroughly unprofessional. You shouldn’t be swearing at work at all .

[Haggisfish3]

Sorry, I swear like a trooper but never at work.