Swear Jar – Photo credit: thehonestmommy.com
I’ve had the pleasure to work with some of the pottiest mouths in my line of work (don’t get any idea, this is Accounting we’re talking about, not pole dancing). I have to say, our days were as productive as they were filled with some of the funniest expletive words and phrases one could think about (by then, I had let go of my inner professional good girl). And truth is, although we were all some pretty buttoned-up professionals, Ann taylor dresses and Brooks Brothers non-iron dress shirts, it was OK…Actually, it was best…
Apparently, and this according to a study by British researchers Yehuda Baruch and Stuart Jenkins, swearing at work is not only OK, it’s highly recommended. Not only does it largely improve morale, swearing also releases a great deal of stress (well, I could have told you the latter). Yet, really, is swearing at work a great way to build good rapport with your co-workers, or does it make you look like an inappropriate douchepurse?
My $0.05: when it comes to casually swearing at work, one word of advice: KNOW YOUR OFFICE! And know your office culture! You may work in a casual, permissive environment that allows (or even fosters) language liberties. Or you may work in a very conservative setting when only a few co-workers casually swear in between themselves. In any case, look around and gage your environment first. Build a rapport with people first before getting overly casual with them. And NEVER address clients or upper management with lesser than your most curated vocabulary!
Or you can always get the department’s swear jar out:
What do you think? Do you use casual swear words at work?
The Corporate Sis.
