Dismissed for swearing to myself

Manorgirl

I just wanted some advice. I did work in a call centre taking sales over the phone which are monitored by more senior staff. I had a particularly frustrating customer and after the call ended I said phucks sake to myself in frustration which no one surrounding me heard. It was said to myself to vent, customer didn’t hear it. I’ve worked here for only 2 months and today was instantly dismissed for this as a manager listened in the call even though the swearing was said to myself and directed at no one else . I’ve worked in many different places before this and it would never even be an issue. I’m pretty stunned and find it ridiculous. Was also insulted as was told it was unprofessional. I’m not bothered about working at the company anymore because I think it was stupid I got dismissed for such a minor thing but could this be construed as unfair dismissal? I’ve never experienced anything like this in any other job, I’m stunned.:eek:

Torry_Quine

With only two months employment you can be fired for any non-discriminatory reason so this is totally legal. It was very unprofessional

aife

I sympathise , this is another example of the way employees in a lot of areas are beihg turned into drones.
Legally I'm afraid you're on a hiding to nothing

Manorgirl

Yeah thanks. I’ve never been accused of being unprofessional before but it just seemed a bit harsh for one mistake but hey ho I’ll just look for another job but not in a call centre. I’ve in fact never been dismissed before so it was a bit of a shock.

getmore4less

They can't take the risk you won't slip up.

You had your headset on you knew they were recording.
I can see why they think that should be a no swearing window.

Would not surprise me if the no swearing extends to anywhere on the call floor.

How many of us have had leak through overhearing nearby calls when dealing with a call centre?


To see how easy it is to slip up just watch X-factor from the weekend, they will have had it drummed into them for weeks this is live TV no swearing

TELLIT01

To the best of my knowledge phone recording systems only work when the call is live. Therefore your comment must have been said whilst the line was still open whether the person on the other end heard it or not.
It would certainly be unusual for all conversation picked up by the headset to be recorded as every comment made anywhere in the office would be on there.

Manorgirl

Well thinking about it I probably was in the wrong. The customer was half deaf though that’s why the call was so frustrating as they couldn’t hear me and kept talking over me so I doubt they heard me swear. But still lesson learned, won’t be doing that again. I think I fancy a change from customer service and sales.

Wyndham

It is unprofessional. And even if it was to yourself, there would be people around you who may have heard it and be offended. And it may have been picked up by their lines to the customers they were talking to.

The other issue is that you did not deal well with a customer with a disability - they cannot help being deaf and your behaviour was therefore inappropriate on that level as well.

I would have fired you on the spot. Find other ways to vent, or preferably other ways to not get wound up so easily.

Diamandis

Do you really believe this was professional behaviour? I'd have sacked you for it too.

IAmWales

Manorgirl wrote: »

Well thinking about it I probably was in the wrong. The customer was half deaf though that’s why the call was so frustrating as they couldn’t hear me and kept talking over me so I doubt they heard me swear. But still lesson learned, won’t be doing that again. I think I fancy a change from customer service and sales.

You might want to learn some empathy.

I have mild hearing difficulties and using the phone when there is background noise (as there is with call centre calls) is horrible. I'll apologise for my difficulty but a little consideration in return should not be too much to expect, and someone swearing about me - even if I don't hear - is downright rude.

motorguy

getmore4less wrote: »

They can't take the risk you won't slip up.

You had your headset on you knew they were recording.
I can see why they think that should be a no swearing window.

Would not surprise me if the no swearing extends to anywhere on the call floor.

How many of us have had leak through overhearing nearby calls when dealing with a call centre?

Thats exactly it. It causes all sorts of problems if a customer hears it. Escalations, complaints, etc.

The botttom line is, even though the customer didnt hear it, you were recorded and its a disciplinary offence.

I would say that this might have been taken in the context of your work overall and your approach to empathy and customers and they've used it as an opportunity to get rid of you.