Is it reasonable to quit a temp job due to coworkers' excessive cussing? And management accepts cussing.

[Onxy]

I accepted a one-month temp job through a staffing agency. The work itself is pretty easy—I’m just transferring employees’ HR files from one system to another. However, for some reason, they placed me at a desk in the IT department. The job isn’t IT-related, nor do I have an IT background.

I’m now in my second week, and I honestly can’t stand the excessive cussing going on around me. There are about 10 guys and 1 woman in the department, all IT staff. Sometimes they curse all day long. Every other word seems to be “fk this,” “fk that,” “fking sh*t,” “dumb fking b*tch,” etc. It’s constant, whether they’re talking about work, food, coworkers, computers, music, shows, or their personal lives. It’s not just an occasional slip—it’s nonstop.

To make it worse, my desk is a high-top bar desk placed right in the middle of their workspace. There’s no way to avoid their conversations, and there are no alternative seating options. I’m stuck sitting there for 8 hours a day, surrounded by this language.

On my first day, my manager and a couple of the IT staff did warn me that they use foul language and hoped it wouldn’t offend me. And to be fair, they’re not directing it at me or harassing me. They’re just talking among themselves—but loudly and constantly.

I get the sense that they’re frustrated with their jobs, but still… is it really necessary to curse this much, especially when it’s not even about work? It’s mentally draining and gives off a hostile, negative vibe that’s hard to ignore.

For context, I don’t curse at work, though I do occasionally outside of it. I’ve worked blue-collar jobs in warehouses where some profanity was used, and I found it more tolerable—probably because I was on my feet and moving around, not stuck at a desk listening to it all day.

I always assumed that people in white-collar, professional settings—especially those with degrees—would carry themselves more professionally. Maybe that’s naive, but this environment just feels toxic.

I don’t know if I can handle a few more weeks of this.  Would it be unreasonable to quit over this, even though it’s a short-term assignment? Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

Also, there would be no point in confronting the IT team or my manager about the language—they're not going to change. In fact, my manager herself also swears. I know for a fact they won’t stop just because I bring it up. 

I’ve thought about telling my recruiter at the staffing agency—maybe she’s not aware of the work environment—but honestly, even if I do, anyone who comes in after me will either be just as irritated or end up joining in. It feels like this is just part of the culture in that department, and I doubt it will change anytime soon. 

[ExpatInItaly]

How badly do you need the money rightnow? 

[Onxy]

9 minutes ago, ExpatInItaly said:

How badly do you need the money rightnow? 

I do need money now, and I've also been applying to other places in the meantime 

[ExpatInItaly]

1 minute ago, Onxy said:

I do need money now, and I've also been applying to other places in the meantime 

Then I would stick it out. It's just a few more weeks and your bank account will  thank you. 

[Onxy]

7 minutes ago, ExpatInItaly said:

Then I would stick it out. It's just a few more weeks and your bank account will  thank you. 

But how do I handle the excessive foul language-these IT people have no filter, obnoxious grown married men

[ExpatInItaly]

Just now, Onxy said:

But how do I handle the excessive foul language-these IT people have no filter, obnoxious grown married men

Ignore it as best you can. There is nothing else you can do. 

 

[Sanch62]

4 hours ago, Onxy said:

I’ve thought about telling my recruiter at the staffing agency—maybe she’s not aware of the work environment—

Well, you'll need to tell the recruiter something because she'll need to restaff the position. You can have any reason to quit a temp job, so a bunch of strangers on the Internet approving it as 'acceptable' doesn't buy you anything. You'll still be out the money, and other consequences might include burning a bridge and never being placed by that agency again. It's your call.

If you need the money enough, why not wear earbuds and tune them all out? They aren't your department, you don't report to them or need to hear them, and if anyone calls to your attention that it breaks their rules, they've opened the door to hearing why you wear them. Then the onus is on them to either fire you or accommodate you--either by allowing you to wear the earbuds or moving you to another location.

Edited October 2 by Sanch62

[introverted1]

Can you wear headphone and listen to music?  This is typically ok in IT environments. 

[Els]

On 10/2/2025 at 10:16 AM, Onxy said:

I always assumed that people in white-collar, professional settings—especially those with degrees—would carry themselves more professionally.

Uh, no, lol. Some of the most foul-mouthed people I've ever met are doctors, for instance. And yes, they also cuss at work. A lot. Not when they're talking to patients, but definitely to colleagues. 

Personally, it wouldn't bother me if people are cussing as long as they're not harassing me. On the scale of things that WOULD bother me about co-workers' conversation, cussing is pretty much on the bottom, sandwiched between "poor grammar" and "excessive usage of certain words". Much higher up on the list would be stuff like sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.

If it bothers you, I'd say just use headphones if you can. But honestly, if cussing bothers you that much, it might be worth examining the reasons for it and if you can do anything to change your perception, because you're going to have a rough time in the working world. It does depend on where you live, I suppose, but the f word is really not that taboo in a lot of places. It's reasonable for you to ask them to not cuss when they're talking to you, but if they're talking amongst themselves, then that's really none of your business IMO.

Did you grow up in a very conservative or religious environment?

 

Edited October 3 by Els

[Sanch62]

1 hour ago, Els said:

If it bothers you, I'd say just use headphones if you can.

Yep, but I would NOT ask permission to preemptively learn if you can use earbuds. I'd just use them and put the onus on the company to raise any issues with them.

Most companies don't care as long as the work gets done. If they do raise an issue, I'd kindly explain that the cussing creates a hostile work environment. I'd ask if I can continue with the earbuds or whether they'd prefer to move me to a quieter desk.

BTW--I wouldn't advise any of this if it weren't a temp gig, but my goal in this case would be to work through my contract in the best way for myself.

Edited October 3 by Sanch62