If a superior swears at you

[GranoLLLy-girl]

I have a question. I work in public education. Today, one of my superiors swore, sort of indirectly at me. He was yelling (yes, LOUD yelling) and dropped the f bomb into a sentence that he was yelling at me--so he wasn't swearing AT me, as in calling me a name, but he was swearing in a sentence that he was yelling while he was yelling at me. He said this in front of a student.

He was angry--but not at anything I did. My boss, beyond him, is his best friend.

Do I tell her what happened (I don't trust her), or do I keep my mouth shut?
There were no witnesses other than this student.

And yes, I have been looking for work for some time beyond this job.

[*MamaJen*]

I think this falls into the realm of things I would let slide. If he had been swearing at you and used a curse word to berate you, I would be angry and report it. But if he was just kind of venting in your direction about other things and used a swear word, while it's not particularly professional, I don't think I would go so far as to file an actual complaint about it.
If it happens again, I think it would be appropriate to politely ask him to watch his language.

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

I think this falls into the realm of things I would let slide. If he had been swearing at you and used a curse word to berate you, I would be angry and report it. But if he was just kind of venting in your direction about other things and used a swear word, while it's not particularly professional, I don't think I would go so far as to file an actual complaint about it.
If it happens again, I think it would be appropriate to politely ask him to watch his language.

Other than the fact that this was in front of a student, I agree.

But the fact that it happened in front of a student, that's a BIG deal to me. That's the epitome of unprofessional IMHO. I have worked as a teacher, a teacher's assistant and as a children's photographer. You DO NOT lose your professionalism in that manner in front of those kids. As a parent, I would be extremely upset if an administrator did something like that. And more upset if the other adult in the room didn't at least report it to the higher ups.

[BookGoddess]

So he wasn't swearing at you, but he was yelling at you in front of a student? To me the f-bomb isn't really the issue. It's unprofessional to yell at you even if he's not angry at you, and to do it in front of someone else compounds it.

If you don't trust the person you would report this to and this isn't some regular thing that happens to you at your job, I would let it go.