F-bombs ok: Swearing at work is 'normal'

Most millennials prefer to let it all out, language-wise. Photo / Getty Images

New research has found it is normal for millennials to use swear words at work and younger women are the most likely to drop the f-bomb at the office.

According to a new study of 1500 Americans conducted by work management platform Wrike, three quarters of female millennial managers and executives admitted to swearing at work.

58 per cent of Generation Xers and Baby Boomers in the same roles said they swear while on the clock.

About two-thirds of millennial employees across the ranks swear at work, according to the survey, and millennial women are less bothered than millennial men by workplace profanity.

The survey also found that the amount of cussing can affect an employee's comfort, including when there's not enough of it.

47 per cent of millennial men and 40 per cent of women prefer cussing in the work place.

Forty-five percent of Boomers and Gen X respondents millennials said workplace cussing "is too casual and feels unprofessional," while 45 percent of millennials said it makes no difference at all.

The survey found that healthcare was the most crass industry, with 64 per cent of employees swearing at work.

This research comes hot on the heels of an Ofcom survey which ranked the most common curse words from most to least offensive.

Without going into too much detail, the words ranged from 'arse' which was seen as mildly offensive, to the f-word which was up there with the worst words to use.

"Clear racist and discriminatory language was the most unacceptable overall," the researchers said.

"Such words were viewed as derogatory, discriminatory and insulting. Many were concerned about them being used at any time, unless they were particularly justified by the context.

"Many said that discriminatory and racist words were harder hitting, carrying more emotional impact than 'general' swear words."