Working and Cursing
How do we handle a boss who curses a lot? And what do we do when HR can't do anything about it?
This was a question I got from a disgruntled employee who asked to be anonymous.
This situation is familiar to all of us but not absolutely discussed in the organisation.
Let's break this down into two for the cursing part:
Cursing at someone in the workplace is offensive and detrimental to the overall work environment of the organisation
1st, was the cursing towards a person? Like an insult of sorts? If it is, then this is absolutely unprofessional. Cursing at someone in the workplace is offensive and detrimental to the overall work environment of the organisation. Especially when done in public, like in front of your officemates.This is often subject to a disciplinary action.
Sanctioning someone for expressing themselves, is in itself, a very tricky subject and might cause complications in disciplinary sanctions.
2nd, was the cursing a form of expression? If so, this is tricky. This basically boils down to the overall culture of the organisation. If the organisation values being morally sound and part of it are the words being uttered in the office, then it's a violation of the company's culture. Sanctioning someone for expressing themselves, is in itself, a very tricky subject and might cause complications in disciplinary sanctions.
So what do we do about the HR who can't do anything about it?
As an HR practitioner, this person has to address the elephant in the room. It's only going to get bigger. You can only dodge a bullet so many times, eventually it will hit you.
But to the employee who's on the receiving end. I know it can be frustrating, but if the cursing was towards you, you have all the right to demand for a complaint. Go to the Department of Labor and Employment if all else fails.
It's an issue of our personal values and the company's. If you cannot tolerate this, then there might be a problem in culture fit.
If it's a form of expression, then we have to consider the culture of the organisation and its tolerance towards cursing and expressing one's self. It's an issue of our personal values and the company's. If you cannot tolerate this, then there might be a problem in culture fit.
At the end of the day, we always have a choice on how we can respond regardless of the situation, as Viktor Frankl Quoted:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."