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Train guard swearing ?

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badger1badger

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Just wondering on thoughts waiting to board my train when the guard stood next to a colleague shouted up the ramp hurry up please.

Then saying I am not F@@£ing about today aimed at his colleague but in full ear shot to a number of passengers ?

Is it right or wrong ?
 
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ANorthernGuard

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Just wondering on thoughts waiting to board my train when the guard stood next to a colleague shouted up the ramp hurry up please.

Then saying I am not F@@£ing about today aimed at his colleague but in full ear shot to a number if passengers ?

Is it right or wrong ?

damn human guards. must be a robot must not make mistakes. must be a robot must not make mistakes.

Seriously we have all done it without realising. As Homer J Simpson would say after realising.....Doh!
 

SS4

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Tone of voice is important here and whether or not it could be directed at a passenger. It's not right but seems kind of petty to complain about
 

Antman

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Just wondering on thoughts waiting to board my train when the guard stood next to a colleague shouted up the ramp hurry up please.

Then saying I am not F@@£ing about today aimed at his colleague but in full ear shot to a number if passengers ?

Is it right or wrong ?



Totally unacceptable as it would be in any line of work in earshot of the public.

I would think he can expect a disciplinary if its reported.
 

ComUtoR

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This has always fascinated me and I don't think there is a clear answer.

Should the guard or anyone swear in the workplace - No
Should personal conversations between two people be exempted - Yes

Did the guard directly swear at a member of the public - No
Did the guard casually swear in conversation with a member of the public - No
Did a member of the public overhear/eavesdrop on a private conversation - Yes


Did you speak to the guard about his language ? If it was that much of a bother then you could have easily spoken to the guard. I'm sure he would of apologised.

A Driver friend of mine almost lost his job for swearing in public. On a case by case basis you would need to apply common sense. A quick word to the person may have a better effect than a full blown complaint.
 

bb21

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Why is the OP angry about this?

To be fair he did not say that. He is just asking for people's opinion.

Is it professional? Probably not.

Does it bother me? I have far more important things in life to focus my attention on than this, if all he did was casually slipping the f-word into a conversation with a colleague.

You mean the ticketless passengers with apparently no money only happens on those two flows or conductors exterminating passengers only happens on those two flows?

Perhaps he means that the station codes do not compute. ;)
 

scotraildriver

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I was swearing at my NRN radio one day. F...... ing stupid piece of c**p kinda thing only I was holding the PA handset instead of the radio one. Ooopsy
 

Greenback

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It shouldn't happen, but it does. It doesn't bother me at all. Of course, if it is anything like what I heard a member of staff say at Southampton in 1984, 'Shut the **** up and get back on the train', I would be concerned.

This all seems to be a discussion about very little, really.
 

hounddog

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Long time lurker here, about time I posted something.

Many years ago a well-respected cricket commentator was becoming exasperated by some technical difficulties and let out an expletive or two. Unfortunately his remarks went out live on prime time TV. He was hauled over the coals but kept his job.

I see this as exactly the same. Have a quiet word for a first offence but remind the offender about the need to remain prfoessional.
 

yorksrob

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As long as it's not aggressively at someone, I couldn't give a tinker's cuss.
 

ECML180

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As a passenger/customer I wouldn't be too bothered, but as an employee(same level or higher) I wouldn't be too pleased if my colleagues were swearing within earshot of customers. Can you imagine being sat near the door in a restaurant and your waiter saying "Not that silly **** again" as someone comes in!
 

yorksrob

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As a passenger/customer I wouldn't be too bothered, but as an employee(same level or higher) I wouldn't be too pleased if my colleagues were swearing within earshot of customers. Can you imagine being sat near the door in a restaurant and your waiter saying "Not that silly **** again" as someone comes in!

The implied insult would be more of a concern in that case rather than the word itself.
 

Greenback

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The implied insult would be more of a concern in that case rather than the word itself.

Quite right. A more accurate comparison would be a customer on the way from their table to the bathroom who overheard heard one waiter saying 'I'm not ******* about today' to a colleague at the service point.
 

Roverman

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This has always fascinated me and I don't think there is a clear answer.

Should the guard or anyone swear in the workplace - No
Should personal conversations between two people be exempted - Yes

Did the guard directly swear at a member of the public - No
Did the guard casually swear in conversation with a member of the public - No
Did a member of the public overhear/eavesdrop on a private conversation - Yes

^^THIS


Customers/Clients/Passengers eavesdrop far too much on conversations between staff members, years ago it didn't get too out of hand as they would perhaps only repeat it to friends or family. Now with things like Facebook and Twitter they are repeating it all around the world often deliberately tagging the employer in just to cause trouble. My local shop is manned by a married couple. They like, nay, love their customers but the language they throw at each other would make a Navvy go red. Doesn't mean they are terrible at their job, it just makes them human.
 

Fincra5

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Its quite easy to forget the passengers exist when you are talking to a work mate or colleague... I often have banter with my fellow guards, sometimes completely forgetting where I am :o
 

user15681

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Just a few weeks ago I heard a member of staff swearing, it was hard to miss. I quietly and politely highlighted the fact he'd let the 'F' bomb slip and had a little laugh about it. He was very apologetic even though I told him it didn't bother me. I just didn't want him to make the same mistake again and someone else who hears him take it further. I think he probably thought a bit more about the words he chose for the rest of that week.

Ultimately, staff are human and slip up. I don't think minor mistakes like that are a problem really, as long as it wasn't directed at someone in a malicious manner. I'm sure some staff would appreciate a pointer or quiet word if you had a problem, rather than complaining to a higher body and them being ripped into for something that was only a minor mistake.
 

ATW Alex 101

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It's certainly unprofessional, and I would complain if I was swore at by a guard, but overhearing them swear I'm not really bothered.

I had a northern guard say "****in hell, rains heavy today" to me whilst he was selling a ticket , but I just laughed it off as he wasn't insulting or anything.
 

ECML180

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Not forgetting that song which was recently in (what passes for) the charts these days-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci-KxKP4EeQ

Stupid bloomin song, funnily enough the kids think its cool! :lol:

As we all know-
For coughs and colds, take Beechams. ;)

I found the fox song almost Two Ronnie-ish!

Having said that I see them as clean family type entertainers but I'm sure some people see them as rude and innuendo-laden rubbish!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx5Qoin-Jzo
 
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