Foul language as sackable offence

[BananaCoconut]

The context is a semi-professional sporting environment, dealing with male adults. Two separate incidents where two players were called a 'bad name' are now being used as a 'sackable' offence on the grounds of bullying at work. DP has no previous history of bullying although his language tends to become more 'colourful' when the team is under-performing but that's deemed normal at professional clubs.
DP has no idea where he stands on this, and has been told that the governing body would immediately go down the disciplinary route, leading to gross misconduct dismissal. Could someone out there please advise?

OP, as well as confirming the ages of the two players, can you say whether or not the complaining mothers witnessed the incidents?

Swearing in any professional environment is technically an issue for disciplinary action however it is as commonplace as sneezing or coughing in the workplace. Usually if someone complains the culprit is just told to tone it down. Unfortunately it is also one of those behaviours that whilst easily dealt with can also be used to get rid of someone for political reasons.

"it is as commonplace as sneezing or coughing in the workplace."

I strongly disagree with that. I've never worked anywhere where swearing is commonplace, or even heard at all.

It might or might not be commonplace in the workplace in question, but when it's verbally abusing someone rather than just bad language that's more serious, and if it's minors or young adults where the OP's DH is in a position of authority and to some extent care/welfare as well, that's even worse.

I agree with Flowery - I work in an engineering environment, mainly young and mainly male. Yes, sometimes they swear when they drop stuff etc, but they immediately apologise because they realise they are at work and professional behaviour is required of them. Bad language is definitely not commonplace.

Just once, the swear word used was potentially discriminating (although not directed at anyone). The speaker immediately came to self-report, and voluntarily and fully apologised to all who heard it - and this has never been an issue since. Because of his attitude, and because we checked everyone was satisfied with the apology, we handled it informally but specified that a repeat would be treated as serious misconduct.

I think swearing at work is likely to depend on job, industry, culture etc. I can think of plenty of environments, including my current one, where it happens (not all the time). Agree if it's aimed at an individual, that is completely different to swearing at/about something. In the OP's dp's case, it's relevant to know whether his use of language at work is unique to him or whether others have done similarly.

I think there is a difference between swearing between colleagues, and someone in a position of authority swearing at someone lower down the pecking order.

This all sounds very odd to me, and I imagine they are teenagers rather than over 18s.

Which makes it, in some workplace situations, an immediately sackable offence, so I'd say that being offered the 2 mths pay is quite generous and I'd take it and go.

And if my daughter's volleyball teacher (for example) was swearing at her, I'd be starting a witch hunt as well. Probably.

"I think there is a difference between swearing between colleagues, and someone in a position of authority swearing at someone lower down the pecking order."

Absolutely. Whether they are minors or not.