Latest news with #cryingAtWork
Fox News
05-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Is crying at work finally acceptable? What BBC readers and experts say about tearful employees
The BBC gathered its readers' opinions on whether it's acceptable to cry at work — and how your co-workers might perceive your tears, or lack thereof. In its article released on Saturday, the majority of respondents told the BBC that they find crying at work to be acceptable — but warned that others in the office may still be "a teensy bit judgemental" about weeping in the workplace. Clara, a 48-year-old from Lancaster, recalled crying at work after getting a "blasting" as a young employee, and later in her career "in frustration." "I've also cried after receiving bad news from home and left work immediately," she told the BBC. On the other hand, another respondent, Emma, told the outlet she felt she had to keep her emotions under control due to working in "a tough male-dominated environment" and would be tough on herself for "showing emotion or 'weakness.'" Despite the fact that there is some research to support the idea that women are more likely to cry than men, the BBC did hear from some men who were open about their experiences crying in front of co-workers. Guy Clayton, a doctor from London, told the outlet that he had often cried "with patients, colleagues and families over the years, when I've shared their sadness." A 38-year-old Londoner working in finance said that he had become emotional while dealing with personal issues at work in the past, but felt that it showed "a professional dedication" to still show up. The BBC heard from executive coach and success mentor Shereen Hoban, who argued that it's old-fashioned to find crying at work unacceptable. "We've moved beyond the old-school idea that professionalism means leaving emotion at the door," she told the outlet. "In today's world, emotional intelligence is a strength, not a liability." Career coach Georgia Blackburn told the BBC that it's not out of the ordinary for people to get upset at work, and asserted that employers need to understand how to deal with employees who are feeling down. "An employer that truly listens, shows compassion and understanding, is so much more likely to keep their staff motivated and happier in the long run," she claimed. Amy Powney, a fashion designer and mother, told the outlet that she believes crying at work has been "demonized" and refuses to apologize for her breakdowns. "I just think bring back the crying, bring back the emotions," she stated. "Women in leadership should be able to show their emotion. I think it's a superpower. I think it's a strength." CEO of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Ann Francke, warned that not everybody is accepting of weeping in the workplace — and you may be judged for doing so. She told the outlet that women who cry at work are seen as "too emotional" and men who let their emotions get the best of them may be seen as being soft or vulnerable. The CMI chief executive also warned bosses that senior staffers typically don't get the same leeway with their emotions that junior employees may receive. "When a senior leader cries, it can be seen as shocking or even inappropriate. But when handled with authenticity, it can also be powerful. It shows that leaders are human and care deeply about what they do," she told the BBC. The CMI left BBC readers with four tips about what to do if they become tearful at work. They included: "Give yourself permission to step back and take a moment." Another suggestion was that "you don't need to hide your emotions." The outlet called for taking "a short break" if needed. And finally: "Managers and colleagues need to acknowledge when their staff are crying – offer a tissue to them, don't pretend it's not happening."
Forbes
28-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
How To Feel Better After Crying At Work: Advice For Strong Women
You're reading this because you probably want to disappear right now because you lost control and cried at work. You might even be considering quitting and changing industries entirely to start anew because you believe everyone is thinking about it as much as you are. First of all, they are not thinking about you, and you're not weak. You just got hit with something at the worst time, while unfortunately probably wearing mascara, and you're not alone. A survey from Accountemps found that nearly 45% of workers have cried at work, and women were more likely than men to admit it. That's a lot of tears. So how do you feel better about crying at work? It begins with recognizing why it is not such a bad thing. Your first thought might be that crying will destroy your career. It feels like that because it catches you off guard in the worst way. One minute you're having a normal conversation, the next you feel it coming on and tell yourself to STOP and maybe even pretend you suddenly developed seasonal allergies. It can be so sudden, then when the tears come, crying at work feels like you lost control in a place where control is everything. You might think being 'the strong one' is your entire brand. You've built a reputation on grace under pressure. You're the person who sends calm emails when everyone else is in chaos. And now, after one shaky conversation or performance review gone sideways, you feel like you've just shattered your own image. No. You're the only one replaying it on endless repeat with a mental slow-motion effect. Most people are way too wrapped up in their own nonsense to remember that your voice cracked or your eyes welled up. And those who do remember? They probably feel compassion. They've likely cried at work too. If they are a man and especially if they are older, they probably already forgot about it. I've talked to a lot of CEOs about this and most of them have had women cry in their office. When I ask them for more specifics, they don't even remember because they didn't think much about it. Research has shown that women tend to display greater empathetic responses than men, which may be why women are more likely to respond supportively when someone cries. With all the people I have interviewed and asked how they feel about seeing someone cry at work, not a single one told me they even really gave it much thought, unless that person crying was them. In the short term, crying might seem like a shot to the perception of your competence. In reality, crying has nothing to do with how well you can do your job. If you show up, deliver results, and act like this isn't your defining moment, others will too. Crying doesn't cancel out years of being a rock star. It's just a bad moment that everyone but you has forgotten about. Instead of obsessing about your embarrassment, get curious. Not about what others thought. About what the moment revealed to you. Use questions to guide yourself forward. What triggered that reaction in you? Was it frustration, feeling unheard, something unresolved? What does this moment say about what matters to you? What boundary was crossed? What story did you tell yourself about what happened? How can you communicate better next time if this situation repeats? What would you say to a friend if this happened to her? Did this moment teach you anything about what you want more or less of in your work life? If you can answer even a few of those honestly, you will grow from it and see that there will be less to cry about. You get up. You wash your face. You give yourself a moment in a bathroom stall like a pro. Then you send an email, check something off your list, or walk to get coffee. Action is your antidote. You're not erasing what happened. You're reminding yourself that you still run the show, even if it doesn't feel like it today. It will feel a little better tomorrow when you show up at work and see no one cares and eventually you might even laugh at it. If you're a man who cries at work, you're not weak either. Emotions don't disqualify you from leadership or respect. They show you're human. Acknowledge the moment, recover your footing, and continue with what matters. Most people respect vulnerability far more than a robotic performance. If you're a man witnessing someone else cry, especially a woman, resist the urge to fix it or make it awkward. Just hold the space. Ask if they're okay. Don't jump into advice. Sometimes saying 'I see you're upset and I'm here if you need anything' is enough. Presence is powerful. And remember, no one is keeping score of your most emotional day. What matters more is how you show up afterward. What If Crying At Work Happens Again? getty If it happens again, it just means you're human. If anything, it shows you care deeply and have come back to work for more. It didn't break you. If it happens again, you'll survive again. And someone else might see it and feel less alone because of you. Tell yourself this: 'That was rough, but it's over. I'm allowed to have feelings. I'm still competent, still respected, and still the person who gets things done.' Then do something small that feels like control, create something powerful at work, text a friend who's cried mid-presentation and lived to tell the tale. You didn't lose your strength. You just proved you care and that means a lot. Does Crying At Work Mean You Care Too Much? getty For many women, the only time they've experienced crying at work because they cared deeply and were frustrated. Or because they had to make a hard decision, like quitting a job they once loved. That kind of emotional response tells you that something matters to you, maybe more than you realized. For example, quitting is one of the hardest moments to avoid tears. That was true for many of us when we were younger. Now, for some, crying seems almost impossible. As you age, for this one situation, lack of hormones might actually help you. Or just time and perspective helps too. The truth is, the older you get, the less likely you are to cry at work. Not because you're tougher, but because fewer things rattle you. And while that might sound like growth if you don't cry anymore, it's also kind of sad because that was passion that made you cry. You felt something real. You showed that you're not hardened. Not yet. You still care, and that's a good thing. Ask yourself this: Do you want to be the cold fish who never cries? Or the person who has enough empathy to feel something and still move forward? If you're the latter, welcome to the club. You'll be just fine.
