Crying at work

RuthG · May 2007

I've read a few articles lately saying that crying, once taboo at work, is now acceptable behavior in the workplace. I was wondering what all of you in the HR field feel about that.

fisHRman · May 2007

As Tom Hanks said in A League of Their Own, "There ain't no crying in baseball" ... and there ain't no crying in the workplace!

IrisD · May 2007

While I believe that workplace crying for women should be avoided if we are trying to level the playing field (tying in with fisHRman's analogy), I think there are times it is acceptable--tears of sadness (death of a colleague, a retirement, etc.) or tears of joy (a surprise promotion, award, etc.).

We can't take emotion completely out of the workplace.

BarbieW · May 2007

I remember a movie from a number of years ago when a character who was a news reporter started every day with a good cry as a kind of therapy--seemed to work for her. Although, I don't think we do ourselves any favors by breaking down in tears at work (with the exception of the situations IrisD points out).

At the same time, I know some managers who are brutal to their staff and one or the other is crying at least once a week. I don't think the problem is the ones doing the crying!

3471392 · May 2007

It's like anything else - depends on the who, what, where, when, how and why.

blakefan · May 2007

We're all human...I think that it depends on the situation. We sometimes have no idea what someone is going through outside the workplace.

IrisD · May 2007

The company culture should be such that employees feel that they can express frustration or anger in words, rather than letting it build up to the point where they burst into tears. If you have a manager, like the one Barbie mentioned, whose direct reports are constantly in the restroom crying, then that manager needs some coaching.

bevhunt · June 2007

Heard on the radio that in Japan, there are establishments that rent out "crying rooms" for 1/2 hour so employees can come in to cry and/or blow off steam away from their jobs. Better than the restroom. There are private rooms and also communal crying rooms--guess misery loves company.

kikalee · July 2007

Three weeks ago I lost my oldest son. I think this is one of those times when crying is not only acceptable but expected. I agree with Iris. We can't take emotion completely out of the workplace.

Crying at work

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