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Swearing at Your Boss Can't Get You Fired in Spain

Judge says 'son of a bitch' insult no big deal

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:39 AM CDT

(AP) – A Barcelona court says calling your boss a "son of a bitch" is not grounds for dismissal, insisting the slight is common in arguments in Spain and not that big a deal. The plaintiff in the case was fired in January 2008 for hurling that insult at his boss during a money dispute, then calling him "crazy" as he stormed out of the office. "Without a doubt, both expressions are insulting," the judge said, but not grounds for dismissal.

The man lost a first court challenge, but won on appeal with the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia in February. The ruling states that the worker should either be reinstated, or receive $9,472 in compensation. It's unknown which option the employer picked.

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It's OK to mouth off to your boss in Spain. (Shutterstock)

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The social degradation of language has caused the expressions used by the plaintiff to become commonly used in certain settings, especially in arguments. - Judge Sara Maria Pose Vidal

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Swearing at Your Boss Can't Get You Fired in Spain