Swearing at work 'good for business'

Thank f**k for that

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 16th October 2007 16:00 GMT

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There's some good news today for El Reg hacks and indeed anyone who likes a solid bit of effing and blinding at work - the University of East Anglia has found "the use of non-conventional and uncivil language can be a useful emotional release and an effective way of promoting social relationships with others".

Put simply, profanity can reduce stress and promote team bonding with a beneficial knock-on effect for business.

According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Professor Yehuda Baruch, professor of management at the UEA-based Norwich Business School, and graduate Stuart Jenkins conducted a probe to "challenge leadership styles and investigate the positive impact swearing could have".

They suggest that "by allowing staff to swear as a means of expressing feelings of frustration and tension... working conditions could improve".

However, before you lot go rampaging round the office letting rip with a hideous string of expletives, be aware that the researchers advise that "abusive swearing should not be encouraged where it generates increased levels of stress rather than helping to relieve it".*

Prof. Baruch concluded: “We hope that this study will serve not only to acknowledge the part that swearing plays in our work and our lives, but also to indicate that leaders sometimes need to 'think differently', and be open to intriguing ideas.” ®