[Anonymous]

I was looking around #howshouldweaccountforme and found one that was something like “When HR tells you that a member of the engagement team is not comfortable with swearing in the audit room: ‘That’s [BS]’.”

So it made me curious…is swearing allowed in your office? Are you public, private, or government? And…are you comfortable with it yourself outside of work?

My last workplace (public) was all goody-two-shoes Christian, so I kept my mouth shut there. 😉 My new workplace (private) seems like it will be too professional to allow it, but we’ll see (I start Monday). Myself, I figure words are words, so at home, I’ll use them and have no problem with people using them around me. 😛

[Jennifer Wade]

I try not to swear too much at work – and when I do its mostly related to pc issues.

The two industries I've worked in were auto parts retailer and tobacco processing so…. tons of swearing all over the place. The auto parts was worse with dropping f-bombs everywhere. The tobacco processing is a bit more tame in their swearing – but I've heard their drinking is outrageous on business trips.

FAR - 73, rematch in early April
AUD - 5/14
REG - 8/14
BEC - 11/14

[Amay]

I once had a client who used to swear a lot and it made the audit team uncomfortable. She was very high up and it just did not seem professional to hear her express herself that way. I personally try not to curse ever…unless I am really pissed off about something…and would never do it at work. I just think it looks really low class on a “lady”. I am 25F by the way.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Amay]

I once had a client who used to swear a lot and it made the audit team uncomfortable. She was very high up and it just did not seem professional to hear her express herself that way. I personally try not to curse ever…unless I am really pissed off about something…and would never do it at work. I just think it looks really low class on a “lady”. I am 25F by the way.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Anonymous]

The resounding themes here are that acceptability in this context is all about your audience, your setting your own perception of what is acceptable in a “professional” environment (with “professional” in this context defined on a case-by-case basis).

I “grew up” in a very male dominated part of the financial industry, including working on the floor of the Board of Trade (those aren't men, those are ANIMALS). I'm also not a “delicate flower” to begin with, but I agree that there is certainly a time, place and audience where “inappropriate” language is just that — inappropriate. In those cases I, and I believe most people, tend to behave accordingly.

To put all this in context BTW I am a 43 year old professional woman, 5 feet tall and a size 2, so “fvck” coming from me likely has more impact than it does coming from a “linebacker.”

[Anonymous]

The resounding themes here are that acceptability in this context is all about your audience, your setting your own perception of what is acceptable in a “professional” environment (with “professional” in this context defined on a case-by-case basis).

I “grew up” in a very male dominated part of the financial industry, including working on the floor of the Board of Trade (those aren't men, those are ANIMALS). I'm also not a “delicate flower” to begin with, but I agree that there is certainly a time, place and audience where “inappropriate” language is just that — inappropriate. In those cases I, and I believe most people, tend to behave accordingly.

To put all this in context BTW I am a 43 year old professional woman, 5 feet tall and a size 2, so “fvck” coming from me likely has more impact than it does coming from a “linebacker.”

[quittingcpa2013]

Do it if everyone else is doing it. Don't do it if no one else is doing it.

[quittingcpa2013]

Do it if everyone else is doing it. Don't do it if no one else is doing it.

[UCFCPA]

I work in a small public accounting firm (around 25 people). I've pretty much heard every person in the office cuss at one point. I personally don't cuss (at work or at home/ in my personal life), but I don't get upset by other people doing it either.

REG (8/7/12) 77
FAR (10/4/12) 70 Retake 5/25/13 84!!!!!!!!!
AUD (11/2/12) 78
BEC (11/30/12) 82

[UCFCPA]

I work in a small public accounting firm (around 25 people). I've pretty much heard every person in the office cuss at one point. I personally don't cuss (at work or at home/ in my personal life), but I don't get upset by other people doing it either.

REG (8/7/12) 77
FAR (10/4/12) 70 Retake 5/25/13 84!!!!!!!!!
AUD (11/2/12) 78
BEC (11/30/12) 82

[Author]

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