On-the-job cussing may hurt career

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CHICAGO, July 25 (UPI) -- Cussing at work may feel good in the moment but could be a career-sinking habit over the long haul, a survey by a U.S. online employment search firm indicates.

CareerBuilder.com in Chicago said in a release Wednesday that 64 percent of employers said they'd think less of an employee who habitually swears, and 57 percent said they'd be less likely to promote someone who curses in the office.

How common is swearing in the office? The survey said 51 percent of workers report they've done it -- more likely in front of co-workers than the boss, however.

Men (54 percent) are a bit more likely to cuss at work than women (47 percent), the survey found.

Employers aren't immune to workplace swearing, with 25 percent admitting they've cussed out employees.

Workplace swearing is most common in Washington (62 percent) and Denver (60 percent), followed by Chicago (58 percent), Los Angeles and Boston (56 percent), Atlanta (54 percent), Minneapolis (50 percent), Phoenix (47 percent) and Philadelphia (44 percent).

The nationwide survey of more than 2,000 hiring managers and 3,800 workers was conducted May 4-June 4. The margin of error was plus or minus 1.5 to 2 percent.