SurePayroll Main Street Insights: Small Business Owners Say Workplace Profanity Doesn't Fly

Despite tough economic times, survey suggests that most business owners view swearing on the job as a detriment, not a morale booster.

Glenview, IL (PRWEB) May 19, 2009 -- A survey conducted recently by online payroll service SurePayroll found that when it comes to language in the workplace, most small business owners prefer to keep it clean, even in light of the anxiety business owners and employees are experiencing in the current economy.

While a recent study published in the Leadership and Organization Development Journal suggests that swearing in the workplace can serve as a healthy way to relieve frustrations and ease tension, most small business owners think it does the opposite. According to the survey results, three out of four business owners find workplace swearing offensive and believe it's unprofessional for employees to curse while on the clock.

In many ways a political leadership position is similar to the role of running a business, so it makes sense that business owners expect elected officials to live up to the same standards they employ in their workplaces

The fact that half of the business owners surveyed don't feel it's appropriate for politicians to swear, even in private, is a good indication of just how seriously they take their roles as leaders who should always set a great example, even outside of the office.

Considering how often we hear profanity in pop culture and everyday conversations, it's a bit surprising that so many small business owners are strongly opposed to profanity on the job

Still, it's clear that no matter how commonplace swearing is outside of the office, business owners feel it has no place in a professional environment.

The staff began to use many of these kooky terms and laughter began to replace anger

The terms included such things as 'What the French toast!' and 'Brother trucker.' Creativity is a great tool for inspiring uplifting communication.

"In many ways a political leadership position is similar to the role of running a business, so it makes sense that business owners expect elected officials to live up to the same standards they employ in their workplaces," says SurePayroll President Michael Alter. "The fact that half of the business owners surveyed don't feel it's appropriate for politicians to swear, even in private, is a good indication of just how seriously they take their roles as leaders who should always set a great example, even outside of the office."

The SurePayroll survey also found that 80 percent of respondents believe that even seemingly innocent swearing on the job can be interpreted the wrong way and have negative consequences. Only 11 percent said swearing on the job could act as an office morale booster.

Despite their desire for profanity-free work environments, 40 percent of respondents admitted to swearing at work at least occasionally, indicating that language in their offices isn't always as clean as they want it to be. They don't blame the added stress of a down economy for theirs or their employees' swearing, either. Over 80 percent believe the amount of swearing in their businesses has nothing to do with the recession.

"Considering how often we hear profanity in pop culture and everyday conversations, it's a bit surprising that so many small business owners are strongly opposed to profanity on the job," says Alter. "Still, it's clear that no matter how commonplace swearing is outside of the office, business owners feel it has no place in a professional environment."

How to deal with workplace profanity

What should business owners do if employee profanity is disrupting the workplace? Below are a few tips provided by Alter. All have been reported as tried and true methods to keep language clean in the office:

-   Discuss the issue in private - If a particular employee has trouble completing a sentence without using choice four-letter words, it's a business owner's right to confront that employee -- but never in public. By working out the problem in private, a boss can spare the employee the embarrassment of a "slap on the wrist" in front of co-workers.

-   Explain why it's a problem - Many employees who use profanity often don't understand why it could be disruptive to the office, so business owners should be clear about the problems up front. If employees know right away that swearing is frowned upon, they will be more cautious about the language they use at work.

-   Start an office "swearing fund" - Make it into a game in which every time employees are caught swearing, they must donate a dollar into a fund that will eventually finance an office-wide outing.

-   Use code words to cuss - It might sound silly, but in a recent New York Daily News column, writer Harriet Cole explained how a group of co-workers eliminated profanity and lightened the mood by using alternative terms instead. "The staff began to use many of these kooky terms and laughter began to replace anger," she wrote. "The terms included such things as 'What the French toast!' and 'Brother trucker.' Creativity is a great tool for inspiring uplifting communication."

-   Seek outside help - If workplace profanity becomes so out of control that business owners simply can't contain it, they can look to a third party for assistance. The Lake Forest, IL-based Cuss Control Academy, for example, offers tips, classes and presentations on why swearing can be detrimental to the workplace and how to control it.

About SurePayroll:
Voted Editor's Choice for best payroll service by PC Magazine, a Top 100 Product by Accounting Today and winner of the Stevie Award for eCommerce Customer Service Team of the Year, SurePayroll is America's largest full-service online payroll service and honoree of the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Businesses award two years in a row.

SurePayroll is passionate about small businesses and their payroll. The company is dedicated to providing an extremely friendly and simple payroll experience -- at a price small business owners can afford.

In addition to its payroll and ClickFREETM tax file and pay service -- which allows a user to complete the entire payroll process in minutes -- SurePayroll offers a suite of online services designed specifically for small business, including HR and compliance resources, 401(k) retirement solutions, health insurance and workers' compensation products.

SurePayroll also offers a private-label and co-branded payroll service to accountants and banking partners to offer payroll processing to their small business clients.

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