This I'm a premenopausal woman with ADHD. Crying is often my reaction on any feedback, I'm very sensitive. I can control it sometimes, but it's almost impossible when I'm tired/hungry/sleep deprived, PMS you name it. I work on it with therapist, but reality is - it's not going to go away. I'm not trying to manipulate anyone, it's just who I am. Take it or leave it. |
Agree. Tears happen. I’d rather see someone get choked up when feeling passionate, than get angry or rude. |
Crying? As an adult? Yeah, no. We will not cry at work. But, I have the emotional build of a snail so..... I do not think highly of people who cry at work and think they cry to get attention and get catered to. Seriously? Suck it up. And if it is a man, they need to take their testosterone. |
Is this a joke? Who on earth have you ever managed? What field? Because I don't have time to "read up on how to handle people who cry." I don't have time for people crying at all. Take that $h!t home. |
Interesting thread and my theory is that responses will be largely driven by generation of the respondents. Boomers will be all “what’s WRONG with her?! That’s so unprofessional!”
GenX is the “yeah it happens but just hand her a tissue and get on with it.” Millennials = “she must be experiencing trauma. Just give her space and try to make it work.” And Gen Z is “I totally get her. it’s no wonder she’s crying! why aren’t we ALL crying at work?! This 9-hours a day, 5 days a week work thing makes no sense!” 🤣😂 |
Heaven bless you for your reasonable and humane response! Crying is normal and harmless. |
I 100% agree that it's generational. I'm Gen X (shout out to you for including us because we are constantly forgotten), and your example is exactly how I would respond to someone crying— mildly moved but wipe your face and shut up. |
Nailed it |
Omg did people see you? I worked in a highly toxic environment but would have been eaten alive by all my male colleagues if I was seen crying. (I was the only women in the division) |
it is SO WEIRD to me that you think this is on purpose? no one CHOOSES to cry at work. honestly you need to work on why you would think that in therapy. was emotion considered undesirable in your home as a child? did you have to find a way to completely shut that part of yourself off in order to thrive? crying is an involuntary phsiological reaction. of course one needs to work on getting a handle on it in the workplace. but cry for attention? please. |
I am gen x but i ally much more with your description of gen z. Why AREN'T we all crying all the time at work? I am having an existential crisis every day wondering why i am spending my life in this manner. the idea that you're meant to have a work person and a home persona is insane. let's just be human at work and then maybe it will suck less. that being said even though i am c suite i am a very unusual c suite in that I desire to never get dressed up and am literally allergic to corporate speak. |
You should always have a box of kleenex in your office if you are a manager. Sometimes people cry during reviews or coaching or if they need to talk to you about something personal that's impacting their work. Especially when you are delivering bad news, you should be prepared for it. Some people cry more easily than others. In a 30 year career, I've cried twice in a manager's office. It happens. I've never seen anyone cry in a meeting or a group. That is unusual. |
This is why everyone hates you, by the way. |
This. It’s why managers have sofas. Half of management is helping people through hard things, sometimes they get emotional. Especially if they trust you! |
I only cried in private 1-1 meetings with management and HR when asked to talk about it. It sucked. |