It’s recently been reported that a former interim chief executive of an NHS Trust was unfairly dismissed for sending a high volume of inappropriate emails, including personal ones, and not taking action when receiving inappropriate emails.
The Employment Tribunal felt that the emails were “largely innocent; at or below the level of seaside postcard humour”. It went on to highlight that over a two year period, the emails contained 12 expletives and the f-word appeared six times. As such, the Tribunal felt that this reflected language “in common everyday usage throughout industry, commerce, voluntary organisations and public authorities”.
I have never used the F word in an email. And those who know me, know that I don’t shy from verbally expressing my anger by using expletives (but not quite as fluently as Gordon Ramsey). But I think a line is crossed when it’s written in an email.
Equally, I have never seen an email in over a decade of working in or with the NHS that contained the F word. And if I did, I’m not sure what I would do.
So I’m not so sure I agree with the Tribunal’s opinion that using the F word six times in two years in an email is a reflection of everyday usage in business.
Am I wrong?
Hi Karen
I couldn’t agree more. I believe I’ve seen the F word used once in an email and I wasted no time in telling the sender that I found it incredibly inappropriate and asked him to refrain from doing it again (he was very embarrassed and apologised immediately).
I believe that while such vocabulary may be common in everyday spoken language (and I certainly wouldn’t disagree with that point), I feel that its usage in written communications such as emails is still uncommon and entirely unnecessary.
On an slightly different note, didn’t they have a spam filter to stop the emails with such expletives in the first place?!
Yes, I did think about the spam email filter issue. However in the NHS, because of the nature of the work many words & pictures which are considered “inappropriate” in normal business are not filtered because the content of the email could relate to someone’s health condition.
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I totally agree with you. It is offensive and totally unnecessary. I have seen dismissals for such language. At a senior level such behaviour could be seen as bullying to subordinates. (Karen you are always v professional and only rant in the safety of friends and out of earshot of others – don’t we all!)
LOL! Yes, unfortunately, you have had to endure many of my rants haven’t you!
Totally agree with you Karen. I don’t think swearing in worked-related emails is at all common. I haven’t lived a sheltered life but I don’t think I have ever seen the “F” word in a work-related email and would certainly agree that casual use of such language is inappropriate in written communications related to work.
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I think you’re right Karen. It’s totally unnecessary and rather crass. Oooh that made me sound a bit grand…which I’m not. It’s just not appropriate in business and shows a lack of respect for the recipient.
While dropping a verbal F-bomb on the rare occassion happens, (we’re human, right?)it is never proper to use in writing regardless of the subject matter. Swearing of any kind in a professional setting is dubious at best, but the lasting impression of how someone can master the English language in written form without resorting to profanity goes a much longer way. PS: the word irregardless bothers me more.