Bosses prefer swearing to lies

The no-nonsense approach used by the likes of Sir Alan Sugar appears to be permeating UK firms as new research shows the majority of bosses prefer their staff use expletives rather than lie to them.

According to a poll of senior managers by communications consultancy The Aziz Corporation, while 66% were strongly opposed to fibbing employees, only 37% objected to workers swearing.

Suggesting a decline in formality of business language, the reported revealed older bosses were less tolerant towards swearing than their younger colleagues.

Although three quarters of managers in their 50s complained about expletives being flung around the office, just 43% of those in their 30s thought the same.

Professor Khalid Aziz, chairman of The Aziz Corporation, said: "Bosses prefer their colleagues' language to be honest and accurate even if that means tolerating the odd expletive here and there.

"However it does appear that the culture of television personalities such as Sir Alan Sugar and Gordon Ramsey is permeating the business world.

"While a direct no-nonsense approach may be preferable to the real life David Brents who merely talk-the-talk, good communicators do not need to swear."

In other findings, the report - which analysed business etiquette – found just two fifths of managers believed it is acceptable to drink alcohol at a business lunch, while half believed smoking should be banned throughout their workplace.

"No company wants their brand associated with the image of Harry Enfield's Waynetta Slob – that's just not professional," Aziz said.