Answer Key

Staff II – Comprehension Check

  1. “People who are offended by profanity often don't speak up because they fear they won't be viewed as sufficiently hard-core or tough.” Which of the definitions best matches the meaning of SPEAK UP [speak without fear] 

    to speak up – speak without fear or hesitation
  2. “This guy might be struggling with some TURF ISSUES”. What does it mean? [he is afraid that you will be better than him and take over his job] 

    One other thought: this guy might be struggling with some turf issues, raised by your having been brought in to take over part of his jobturf - the range of the authority or influence of a person, group, or thing
  3. When a co-worker interrupts you, you should say, with a strong and confident tone, something like [A moment, please! I'm not finished.] 

    When your co-worker starts to interrupt you, say something like, "One moment, Fred (or whatever his name is), I'm not finished." Say it with a strong and confident tone.
  4. Which of the options best completes this sentence? “No one should have to work in an F-this, F-that environment...” [if they're not comfortable.] 

    No one should have to work in an F-this, F-that environment if they're not comfortable.
  5. There is a mistake in this sentence: “Is it worth to try to do anything about this, or should you just try to tune it out?”Which part of the sentence has the mistake?  [Is it worth to try to do] 

    Is it worth trying to do anything about this, or should you just try to tune it out?
  6. Speaking to a bullying co-worker, you need to let him know you are  [in control] 

    For bullies, everything is a control issue, so you need to let him know that you are in control.
  7. "Well-placed profanity has its place, if used sparingly.” Which of the words best matches the meaning of SPARINGLY? [economically] 

    sparingly – economically
  8. Salty talk will make your work group seem unprofessional to higher-ups. Who are they? [people who work above you] 

    higher-ups - a person in a position of higher authority in an organization; superior
  9. “People are WORKING UNDER PRESSURE a lot of the time.' Which of the expressions best fits the sentence? [stressed out] 

    About 80% think workplace profanity has increased over the past five years, especially in environments where people arestressed out a lot of the time.
  10. WorldWIT surveyed 40,000 employees and found out that 80% think [number of obscenities at work have increased] 

    Earlier this year, WorldWIT, an online network of professional women, surveyed its 40,000 members and found that about 80% think workplace profanity has increased over the past five years.