Can my boos swear at me?

belisha-beacon

It's also worth noting that you have a legal opt-out of working on Sunday in the UK - as I understand it, noone can be forced to work on a Sunday unless it is a specific part of the contract (eg. if you were employed as a Sunday assistant, or perhaps as a priest!!). They definitely can't make you accept overtime that you don't want, and it being a Sunday makes that especially so.

scrounger_2

remembered_nights wrote: »

I've been wondering about this... my new boss swears at us ALL the time. I walked in the staffroom the other day to hear her describe the entire staff as 'f*cking b*stards', she constantly uses the F word. Apparently she called her previous team a bunch of c**ts in their staff-meeting because they reported her for not giving them their legal breaks

I didn't know if she can treat us that way, or if there's actually any way to pull her up in it.

What probably makes it worse is the fact that it is a woman using that sort of language. Iam not that sheltered to know it doesnt go on but at work but using the c word must be cringing.

GotToChange

If this is fairly unusual behaviour for him, there may (giving the benefit of the doubt here) be some underlying reason for him to be on a hair trigger. Nevertheless, that's not your fault/concern and you shouldn't have to take the brunt of his ill-humour and lack of professionalism. Overtime should be optional and if you have other plans, then tough luck for him I'm afraid.

One point - he is NOT your superior (no-one is); although he may be your SENIOR in the organisation. He still has no right to speak to you like that, in my opinion regardless of the working environment or culture.

If it wasn't for the fact that you have been there some time, I would have thought that this may be the start of a process of treating you badly to make you wish you didn't work there and act accordingly. But you are well-established in your post so I can't really figure it out.

Going to HR without talking to him first may be an unwise move and before you know it matters will escalate to a worrying level. If possible, I would say that speaking to him directly would be the best option and alongside that, keep track of how you are being treated.

(I spent some time as support for a warehousing/distribution company [in an office, not the w/house itself]. The recruiters thought that I would bring (their words) some maturity and a new approach to the team, even though my position was the most junior (go figure). After a couple of months, I had the temerity to ask for clarification of a new procedure. The (not MY) Supervisor (young man, slightly older than my daughter), shouted at me that I wasn't being paid to ****ing think and that I should just "Do the ****ing job". There were other people present and the Supervisor's Manager (and the chap who took me on) was sitting in his office within easy hearing distance. Nothing was done - despite my concerns that it was pretty inappropriate. I left a couple of months later.)

londondulwich

Telling some one to f..k off can be construed as a dismissal, unless expletives are commonplace and could equally be construed to mean something else like, I don't believe it, or, please don't bother me.

The case which decided this involved a disagreement between a construction worker and his foreman.

In in absence of a direct instruction dismissing you, you could argue that the use of expletives justifies your resignation, if you were to resign. Swearing at colleagues has opened the way for successful claims of unfair constructive dismissal in the past.

Frequent use of swear words does not sanitise their effect and employees are not expected to get used to them or put up with them because other people like to swear.

Resigation is an extreme action and unless the workplace is unsupportable I would not recommend it.

You would be well advised to draw attention to your concerns about the abusive language, the fact you were threatened and the aggressive and intimidating tone that was used. Whether you raise this with the abuser or not the employer should be told.

sequence

I guess you work in some kind of office job in which case it is not ok. In my job I would think it strange if people didn't swear all the time though so it depends on your job.

Lollypop75

dmg24 wrote: »

Swearing is subjective, for some people it is perfectly acceptable, and for others it is not. This depends on the relationship between the two parties, the working environment etc.

The first step should be to informally tell your manager that you do not find such language acceptable. You could do this in person, perhaps with a witness, or by email.

Be very careful going straight to HR. In doing so you are marking yourself out as a troublemaker, and it is much more likely to have repercussions on you than your manager. Even if HR do take action, it is likely to be an informal word/ mediation between the two parties. This would be much better coming directly from you.

I agree with this that swearing is unacceptable - and in fact I swear quite a lot. However in this case I don't believe the fact that the manager swore is the issue, really. What he said and the manner in which he spoke was clearly very aggressive. He could have easily said, "This is not good enough," in an intimidating manner.

I just wanted to put that out there because I don't think OP should go in saying, "Please don't use language like that around me again." Some people may read that as, firstly, as an admission of guilt, of sorts, as in, "Please remember that I'm easily offended and don't use language like that around me." Also, it does leave open, essentially, the issue that he spoke to you aggressively. I think it would be much better to say something like, "I am not willing to be spoken to like that. I found your manner quite aggressive."

I would try and put something in there about how I understand that he's under a lot of pressure and I do want to help out as much as possible.... Only much more subtle. It sort of leaves them an easy way to apologise and then hopefully it's dealt with.

I would agree with other posters that going straight to HR with this isn't the best idea. However if your manager's manner with you has bee problematic from the beginning, so that you feel really reluctant to speak to him, then it may be that going to HR is your only option. Generally speaking to your manager in private, as long as you can do it assertively, will be seen in a far better light by your manager (who you do have to work with). But do keep a record of this and any other instances (including keeping a record of your meeting, although might be best to write it down from memory afterwards).

Bobl

SueSueSue wrote: »

Talk about carried away on here. He shouldnt have done it but people swear. its life

Send him a quick email explaining that you dont find swearing acceptable and explaining that whilst your sure he didnt mean to offend you and he was stressed you would appreciate that if he could consider his words in future.

Nothing more nothing less

If you go to HR about him swearing you will be in deep circumstannces of distrust and dislike for what is a minor offence

People of little intelligence swear - it is not 'normal' behaviour, and from management is totally unacceptable. If you are confident about talking to him about it then do so and tell him you will not accept it in the future. If you are not, report him to his Manager. Swearing is a form of bullying and is a disciplinary offence.

maninthestreet

Swearing is disorderly conduct - if he did it out on the street he would at least be cautioned by any police officer who heard him. He needs to be reminded by someone superior to him that disorderly conduct is a disciplinary matter.

Rupert_Bear

Bobl wrote: »

People of little intelligence swear - it is not 'normal' behaviour, and from management is totally unacceptable. If you are confident about talking to him about it then do so and tell him you will not accept it in the future. If you are not, report him to his Manager. Swearing is a form of bullying and is a disciplinary offence.

People who swear do this because they have a very limited vocabulary and it is the only way they can express themselves.