Bosses 'put off by bad language'

Swearing at work is frowned upon by bosses and one in ten has sacked an employee because of it, according to new research.

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Almost half said they would fire an employee for using bad language in the workplace, a poll from TheLadders.co.uk indicated, as reported in Online Recruitment.

Online recruitment website reported on the poll and detailed a breakdown of the other main office no-nos.

A foul mouth occupies the top and second place in a ranking of the worst habits and behaviours in an office environment, with 96 per cent of senior managers saying a colleague who swore was unacceptable to work alongside.

However lunchtime drinking, making excessive personal calls, poor personal hygiene issues and gossiping have also seen employees given their cards.

Almost half of bosses thought smoking breaks were not acceptable and the use of iPods in an office environment was not appropriate either.

General manager of theLadders.co.uk Sarah Drew said while Gordon Ramsey and other had glamourised swearing, office culture had an invisible line between professional and unprofessional behaviour.

More worrying is the impact of swearing on attitude.

How people conduct themselves is of vital significance from a motivation and commitment angle, says ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg.

Swearing suggests impatience, or a lack of self-control, hardly qualities an employer would want from any staff member, he continues.

In fact, 'colourful' TV personalities aside, how many businesses can afford to show such lack of concern or self-pride?