Employers Look Down on Potty Mouths

According to CareerBuilder, the majority of workers (95%) said they cuss in front of their co-workers, while 51% do so in front of the boss. Workers were the least likely to use expletives in front of senior leaders (13%) and their clients (7%).   

But, workers may want to clean up their language. The CareerBuilder survey found 64% of employers said that they would think less of an employee who repeatedly uses curse words, and 57% said they would be less likely to promote someone who swears in the office. Most (81%) believe that the use of curse words brings the employee’s professionalism into question. Others are concerned with the lack of control (71%) and lack of maturity (68%) demonstrated by swearing at work, while 54% said swearing at work makes an employee appear less intelligent.  

However, one in four employers (25%) admitted to swearing at their employees. Roughly the same amount (28%) of workers said they have sworn at other co-workers.   

Among top markets in the U.S., workers in the nation’s capitals were the most likely to report that they swear at work, with Denver and Chicago rounding out the top three.  

• Washington D.C. – 62%, 
• Denver – 60%, 
• Chicago – 58%, 
• Los Angeles – 56%, 
• Boston – 56%, 
• Atlanta – 54%, 
• Minneapolis – 50%, 
• Phoenix – 47%, 
• New York – 46%, and 
• Philadelphia – 44%. 

Comparing age groups, younger employees are the least likely to swear at work, while employees ages 35 to 44 are the most likely to curse while on the job. 

• Employees ages 18-24 – 42%, 
• Employees ages 25-34 – 51%, 
• Employees ages 35-44 – 58%,  
• Employees ages 45-54 – 51%, and 
• Employees ages 55 and over – 44%.