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Lucie Mitchell

Sift Media

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

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HR tip: Stopping swearing

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These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications.


Question:

One of our employees consistently uses bad language in all his conversations. This is offensive to some people who hear it and even more so when it forms part of a complaint against them. He says he is too old, at 55, to change. What can we do?
 
Answer:

Try persuasion. Explain that his language is offensive to several people. And if that fails, assure him that, unless he changes, you will take disciplinary action against him that may result in his dismissal. The 'I’m too old to change' response is just an excuse. We can all moderate our language. Would he use bad language if he went to a church service? Swearing is a bad habit that you must not tolerate, for the sake of all your employees.

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Lucie Mitchell

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

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