To think you need to watch your language at work?

[Christmascracker0]

I line manage an associate who started in October. Young guy, 23 or 24. At first he was really really shy but he’s come out of his shell now.. and now he’s started chatting his language is quite bad!

Nothing massively offensive just things like “bloody HMRC”, “what the hells that about”, “what a load of shite”.

I am pretty chill as a manager and young-ish myself but I would never use that language to another team member let alone my manager!

AIBU to think this is rude? Or am I just being uptight?

If we were in the office I would pull him up on it but he only works remotely so it’s only me that hears it. If it gets any worse I will say something though. I’m worried it’s because he started work not long before lockdowns (at another firm), so maybe doesn’t know workplace etiquette?!

Well clearly that made you feel good about yourself.
🙄🙄🙄

what a lucky escape he had!

You'd hate my workplace! Swearing is the norm here. I don't actually swear much myself but most others do. We're a factory with an office attached, very informal.

Not especially, neither good nor bad, why would you say that?
Just sharing how language in a professional setting is important, which is exactly what this thread is about, isn’t it?

I work in a church and hear worse...

I've called HMRC a lot worse than that at my work! And I'm in a management role

Howling!

I don't like swearing at work and pull people in my team up on it. I work in a professional environment and really don't expect to hear people swearing.

At the risk of sounding ridiculously po-faced, if it is making someone else uncomfortable it should stop. It's almost a form of low-level bullying or powerplay, as you can't get away. I was appalled recently by the language at an amateur football match in a village. Men playing, lots of families with tiny children watching, plus the poor residents who have the misfortune to overlook the field.

The examples you give wouldn’t bother me, personally.

However. Is it possible that his language isn’t actually the thing you’re concerned about, and the swearing is really a kind of lightning rod for a few vaguer issues with his conduct, performance or presentation that you’re still working through in your own head? If he’s relatively new you mightn’t have fully established whether he’s right longer-term yet.

As a manager I won't accept swearing at work.

I don't mean the odd word slipping out. But the example in the OP I would address.

Yeah, I work in construction...

Have you ever dealt with Hmrc in a work role? "Bloody Hmrc" would never be said in jest, as it's just not funny. It's reality, and in my experience Hmrc are called much worse.

Hmrc are beyond infuriating to deal with. Staff are not trained. No one can actually deal with your query without it being "referred to the back office" who you cannot talk to. Incompetence is commonplace and Hmrc systems are broken and not fit for purpose.

I've had the joy of phone calls to them last week - basic requests that they should have actioned without a phone call but no longer do - you have to chase them. Which leads to long hold times. 40 minutes on hold, call answered - I could hear the person on the other end. Wrong button pushed (by them) and a prerecorded message cut in to tell me they could not deal with my call and to call back. Wish I could say that was an isolated incident.

You do not sound "pretty chill"

My place of work is much more than that