What Should I Do When Coworkers Use Bad Language?

You deal with it? Weird topic for an article, unless the target audience is 15.

I began work at Market Basket (a New England grovery chain) at 16. One of my first nights, the guy showing me the ropes on cleanup, general duties, etc., was using the F word every few words, as mere filler. I eventually told hime he could leave out all the swear words. (I don’t think I was unkind.) He hemmed and hawed but cut it out. Would I do that again? Probably not.

I learned over time that by simply not using that kind of language myself, people eventually became uncomfortable when they swore or took the Lord’s name in vain around me. Sometimes they’d swear and then glance at me and apologize. The line I eventually took was, “Don’t worry about apologizing to me.”

I think John Bunyan was on to something, that what made Christian and Faithful stand out in Vanity Fair was their distinct speech pattern and their complete lack of interest in the wares. Just being humble and having grace-full speech is enough to set you apart. All in all, I had people’s respect. I had ample time to share the gospel freely with coworkers during that time, and people listened and interacted honestly.

Years ago when I was serving as a pastor I was asked by a wife to visit her husband in the VA Hospital a few hours away. Her 2 adult sons were there with her and we went to eat together after the visit. The mother was embarrassed that her sons were cussing in front of the preacher, and told them that they shouldn’t talk like that in my presence. I said to her “I’ve heard those words before.”