Swearing in workplace

Lostboy99

I've been called into an investigation meeting in my work as i was talking to one of my regular clients on the phone and was overheard saying "just the usual bs" a member of the management team took offence and claimed this can be classed as swearing. I am a little bemused by this as I am not accustomed to swearing in the workplace at any other time and also my client never complained at any point!. I feel this is a little unjustified.

Dies saying BS(not the full word) in a conversation constitute swearing ?

If anyone can get me their input it would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

PasturesNew

In the workplace, yes, most office-based industries would say it's swearing.

And, if you tried arguing the point, they might add "inappropriate language used with a client"....

So you can't win really.

You used what's most likely considered a swear word by many people, over the phone, in a conversation with a client. Behaviour that could commercially compromise the professional standing of your hiring company.

It's BS .... but that's the way it is/always has been.

tomtontom

I can't think of any context that it would be appropriate to say that to a client?

engineer_amy

I personally think that using those letters is not swearing, given how often I swear over the phone to employees, clients and suppliers, but I am quite a "sweary" person.


However, in an office environment, where the company is trying to maintain a professional façade, I can see how management would take offence at you using that phrase (or implied phrase) while talking to a customer, albeit a little heavy handed.


In our disciplinary procedures policy, it details "Unsatisfactory attitude towards clients" and " Actions likely to result in damage to the Employer's image or reputation in the community or to the Employee's image or reputation" as major misconduct. I suppose a company could fit swearing at a client into either of those.
If called to an investigation meeting over this, I would apologise for using the aforementioned phrase, say that you genuinely hadn't realised that using the letters BS would be taken as such, that you wont do it again and offer to make an apology to the client concerned. If your conduct up until now has been good, I wouldn't be overly worried

asajj

They are your clients not the drinking buddies so not sure how it would be acceptable to tell this to them at all.

Torry_Quine

Have to agree with others this is inappropriate language to use to a client.

andygb

asajj wrote: »

They are your clients not the drinking buddies so not sure how it would be acceptable to tell this to them at all.

Exactly this, you have to draw a definite line between business and pleasure, particularly the way you speak to people - managers/clients at work.

shopbot

I think the point is not about the swearing but the fact you are speaking negatively about your employer to a client. Of course they are going to have an issue with that.

Lostboy99

Thanks for your feedback, now for the legal question, BS could stand for a manner of things, Bill suspension business service, etc it could be interperated as something different as the term itself is actually an attempt at self censorship, I feel if the matter gets taken further I could win a tribunal case against the company, the client was actually swearing like a trooper at me as he normally does! Again how can you prove how it is interpreted?

agrinnall

asajj wrote: »

They are your clients not the drinking buddies so not sure how it would be acceptable to tell this to them at all.

They could be, I have had clients who were also drinking buddies in the past, and with whom some light swearing in the right environment, which could include on the phone from the office, wouldn't be an issue.

The problem for the OP is that the person who overheard it did take issue with it and is in a position to cause some grief. The options are to involve the client to say that they weren't offended (but that doesn't stop it being potentially offensive) or to be contrite, apologise and say it won't happen again. I know which way I'd go.

Lostboy99

If it did go legal, would it not be how it was interpreted as stating when I said BS it stood for business service and that's how I interpret it. I'm guessing this is a huge grey area in terms of how a lawyer would defend my case.