Swearing in the workplace
#1
Welly bound
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Joined: Apr 2016
Location: Wellington
Posts: 170
Swearing in the workplace
Starting to realise it's not really the done thing here..
I come from an industry where swearing at work is kind of normal - male dominated I guess. Here, where I work I've noticed people wincing when I use the F bomb and so I've had to kind of curb that. Sometimes it slips out though when I get excited.
Anyone else noticed this, is NZ more prudish than UK?
I come from an industry where swearing at work is kind of normal - male dominated I guess. Here, where I work I've noticed people wincing when I use the F bomb and so I've had to kind of curb that. Sometimes it slips out though when I get excited.
Anyone else noticed this, is NZ more prudish than UK?
#2
Re: Swearing in the workplace
When it comes to fruity language, I think everywhere is more conservative than the UK.
#3
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Quite the opposite in my experience, probably varies hugely by workplace/industry/city/individual etc
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Exact opposite here too - people in my office are pretty sweary. I find in general the tolerance for swearing is pretty high, with lots more colourful language in general use, especially on tv and radio
#5
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Oh my lord! You are kidding surely ?
Considering my NZ workplace is much more professional and I suppose has a higher importance and executive air about it than my previous employ in the UK it is the most sweary place on earth. It is F bomb C bomb T bomb B bomb and all the other possible bombs city from the moment I start till the moment I leave. Very male dominated though with only a couple of ladies in the mix but they're just as bad as their male colleagues when it's going wrong.....and I love it!!!
It's only when the general manager, CEO or visitors are lurking does the conversation get our very best telephone voice ;-)
Considering my NZ workplace is much more professional and I suppose has a higher importance and executive air about it than my previous employ in the UK it is the most sweary place on earth. It is F bomb C bomb T bomb B bomb and all the other possible bombs city from the moment I start till the moment I leave. Very male dominated though with only a couple of ladies in the mix but they're just as bad as their male colleagues when it's going wrong.....and I love it!!!
It's only when the general manager, CEO or visitors are lurking does the conversation get our very best telephone voice ;-)
#6
Welly bound
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2016
Location: Wellington
Posts: 170
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Oh my lord! You are kidding surely ?
Considering my NZ workplace is much more professional and I suppose has a higher importance and executive air about it than my previous employ in the UK it is the most sweary place on earth. It is F bomb C bomb T bomb B bomb and all the other possible bombs city from the moment I start till the moment I leave. Very male dominated though with only a couple of ladies in the mix but they're just as bad as their male colleagues when it's going wrong.....and I love it!!!
It's only when the general manager, CEO or visitors are lurking does the conversation get our very best telephone voice ;-)
Considering my NZ workplace is much more professional and I suppose has a higher importance and executive air about it than my previous employ in the UK it is the most sweary place on earth. It is F bomb C bomb T bomb B bomb and all the other possible bombs city from the moment I start till the moment I leave. Very male dominated though with only a couple of ladies in the mix but they're just as bad as their male colleagues when it's going wrong.....and I love it!!!
It's only when the general manager, CEO or visitors are lurking does the conversation get our very best telephone voice ;-)
No it's a bit more reserved where I work. I thought that was the norm. The only other ******* sweary mary in my office is also a pom.
#7
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Joined: Oct 2010
Location: Lower North Island
Posts: 86
Re: Swearing in the workplace
When I arrived in Auckland 1987 I was shocked that my boss in the upmarket consulting engineers I worked for was incredibly sweary and used to get really worked up about certain people and go off Effing and C-ing all over the place. I was the only female in the company and some of the engineers also used colourful language and some didn't. It used to make me very nervous but I soon got used to it and it wasn't because I never swore (but just didn't at my work places in UK). Now I work in logistics and they are all very sweary and base. Just common as muck I suppose haha!
#8
Re: Swearing in the workplace
You've got to be joking.
It wasn't just the level, amount and frequency of swearing that made me cringe when I was working in NZ, in various different offices. It was the juvenile delight in doing so.
Also being smirked at for being, 'proper' because I didn't swear at work was just another example of low level but nevertheless continual bullying I was getting. (I'm in control of my language/vocabulary, thank you.)
The person who apologised to me on the quiet for swearing really didn't need to though and I told her so. She was one of the more tame, reasonable and odd-for-a-kiwi grown up ones.
I did remark to a departing kiwi who was handing over the job to me prior to going to live and work in Britain that swearing can be a disciplinary offence at work in Britain.
#9
Welly bound
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Joined: Apr 2016
Location: Wellington
Posts: 170
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Pardon ?
You've got to be joking.
It wasn't just the level, amount and frequency of swearing that made me cringe when I was working in NZ, in various different offices. It was the juvenile delight in doing so.
Also being smirked at for being, 'proper' because I didn't swear at work was just another example of low level but nevertheless continual bullying I was getting. (I'm in control of my language/vocabulary, thank you.)
The person who apologised to me on the quiet for swearing really didn't need to though and I told her so. She was one of the more tame, reasonable and odd-for-a-kiwi grown up ones.
I did remark to a departing kiwi who was handing over the job to me prior to going to live and work in Britain that swearing can be a disciplinary offence at work in Britain.
You've got to be joking.
It wasn't just the level, amount and frequency of swearing that made me cringe when I was working in NZ, in various different offices. It was the juvenile delight in doing so.
Also being smirked at for being, 'proper' because I didn't swear at work was just another example of low level but nevertheless continual bullying I was getting. (I'm in control of my language/vocabulary, thank you.)
The person who apologised to me on the quiet for swearing really didn't need to though and I told her so. She was one of the more tame, reasonable and odd-for-a-kiwi grown up ones.
I did remark to a departing kiwi who was handing over the job to me prior to going to live and work in Britain that swearing can be a disciplinary offence at work in Britain.
Apologies to you Snapshot for raising uncomfortable memories, just trying to lighten the mood a bit and failing..
#10
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Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Munchkjn - are you sure you are in New Zealand?
I am often taken aback with the amount of swearing here, yes and no watershed on the TV either.
Also find the abuse about competitors frankly offensive.
I am often taken aback with the amount of swearing here, yes and no watershed on the TV either.
Also find the abuse about competitors frankly offensive.
#11
Welly bound
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Joined: Apr 2016
Location: Wellington
Posts: 170
Re: Swearing in the workplace
As a family we don't generally watch NZ TV. We just use on demand services like Netflix and a certain player from an undisclosed country.
So haven't noticed this aspect.
It is quite old fashioned where I work, and there's a feeling of the 1930's about the place. I'm sure there's a picture of George V somewhere around here. Maybe that sense of austerity and tradition has prevailed in the culture more so than in other workplaces. That's all I can imagine.
#12
Re: Swearing in the workplace
Depends on the workplace and I suspect the age of the participants.
I find any swearing in front of females obnoxious/disrespectful and very rarely get exposed to it in public myself - but that may be down to my grey hair.
Most film scripts seem to be littered with obscenities probably on the grounds of 'authenticity' so you can't blame youngsters.
Having said that, I was in an office (in UK) with a plumber fixing something next door with his mate and I swear that in an hours conversation every second word started with f - he probably was incapable of communicating without it :-)
I find any swearing in front of females obnoxious/disrespectful and very rarely get exposed to it in public myself - but that may be down to my grey hair.
Most film scripts seem to be littered with obscenities probably on the grounds of 'authenticity' so you can't blame youngsters.
Having said that, I was in an office (in UK) with a plumber fixing something next door with his mate and I swear that in an hours conversation every second word started with f - he probably was incapable of communicating without it :-)
#13
Re: Swearing in the workplace
I work in IT and we generally do a fair bit of swearing under our breath at the things we're working on.
I'd say it's similar to the place I worked in the UK.
I was amused to find that the head of our organisation - a highly educated doctor of law, who's very well-spoken and quiet in his speeches - is incredibly sweary in personal conversation.
I'd say it's similar to the place I worked in the UK.
I was amused to find that the head of our organisation - a highly educated doctor of law, who's very well-spoken and quiet in his speeches - is incredibly sweary in personal conversation.
#14
Re: Swearing in the workplace
I work in IT and we generally do a fair bit of swearing under our breath at the things we're working on.
I'd say it's similar to the place I worked in the UK.
I was amused to find that the head of our organisation - a highly educated doctor of law, who's very well-spoken and quiet in his speeches - is incredibly sweary in personal conversation.
I'd say it's similar to the place I worked in the UK.
I was amused to find that the head of our organisation - a highly educated doctor of law, who's very well-spoken and quiet in his speeches - is incredibly sweary in personal conversation.
No doubt with the rapid spread of American corporate culture we are living in the final days of fun and interesting at work. Pretty soon we'll all be pretending we are working late to 'impress the boss', clapping like good little cheerleaders after boring power point presentations and avoiding jokes for fear of causing offence. We are destined for a future of mindless drones from business schools wearing grey suits and talking about their golf swing or mid-range german car.