It's true, I swear

A British University has discovered "the relevance, and even the importance, of using non-conventional & sometimes uncivil language in the workplace" and describes it as an "emotional release & effective way of promoting social relationships with others."

Apparently, cussing at work proves to be a benefit to employees and their employers. Sounds like we really can never mind the bollocks! At the office at least.

Professor Yehuda Baruch found that the regular use of profanity not only helped individuals articulate their feelings and reduce tension, but also boosted camaraderie amongst co-workers. The Prof, and his grad student co-author, set about to challenge leadership styles and examined the use of expletives and swearing in the work place from a managerial point of view. They are now warning that attempts to prevent workers from swearing could have a negative impact on business. The study notes that "swearing was as a social phenomenon to reflect solidarity and enhance group cohesiveness, or as a psychological phenomenon to release stress." The study surmises that "by allowing staff to swear as a means of expressing feelings of frustration and tension...working conditions could improve". The pair notes that "abusive swearing" should not be allowed, as that may add to workplace stress. Cursing in front of customers and management should be avoided as well. The investigation concludes that "taboo language serves the needs of people for developing and maintaining solidarity, and as a mechanism to cope with stress."

I don't know how much time and effort Professor Yehuda took to study this "phenomena", but I have one comment for the researcher: No shit Sherlock.

The article, entitled "Swearing at work and permissive leadership culture: when anti-social becomes social and incivility is acceptable" is published in the current issue of the Leadership and Organization Development Journal (Vol 28 Issue 6, pages 492-507) and is probably not available anywhere you're going to be.