Younger crowd has a harder time watching their language, survey says

Curses! Foul language and the workplace Ina Sidhu investigates findings of recent study that determined swearing at work is becoming commonplace with the influx of younger workers.

A new survey looking at swearing in the workplace has found that the younger generation is more likely to swear while at work.

According to Wrike, a work management company, 66 percent of millennials, people under the age of 30, say they swear in the workplace.

The survey shows that only 54 percent of people over the age of 30 swear at the office.

Darin Flynn, a linguistics professor at the University of Calgary, says that swearing is often a way for people to let loose.

“It can break the ice, make the workplace more fun,” he says.

Flynn says that swearing shouldn’t necessarily affect someone’s comfort level in a work environment.

“It’s a release of tension and even when swearing is used negatively, it diffuses tension through language instead of violence or other forms of resentment.”

The survey also found that the healthcare industry is the most crass, followed by finance, professional services and technology sectors.

Samantha Rimac says she has a habit of swearing. “I’ve been trying to break it. Probably comes from when I was a lot younger than I am now.”

Jag Moussa, a hair stylist, says sometimes he can’t help it. “Sometimes I get in personal conversations, but I apologize immediately afterwards.”

The poll also showed that more women admitted to swearing at work, but men do it more often.

(With files from Ina Sidhu)