Is Crying at Work Ever Okay?

[Egg]

People have lives and stuff happens.

I agree. But is there a line where when crossed its "dude, get your stuff together" vs "is there anything I can help you with?"

 

[Egg]

Crying in itself isn't wrong. It's a normal emotion.

But should a workplace be a place where one can regularly express it?

Obviously some workplaces you may not have a choice.

 

[Jiminy Cricket]

THE ONLY PERSON I SEE CRYING HERE IS @Egg, LMAOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Egg]

I remember a co-worker crying whenever a manager called them out for their complacency.

I think like humor, its about timing.

 

[Egg]

I think it would be awkward seeing a boss crying but I came close to that when giving a resignation for a job. My boss was misty eyed.

 

[CrazyMonkey1208]

18 years old, had an 8am shift at Walmart. My grandmother was in the hospital a mile down the road. I visited her the night before, and went to visit her in the morning before work but she had passed overnight and nobody told me. I walked into her room (security must have been a little different 20 years ago) and it was completely empty. A nurse walked up to me and must have seen it in my face and she just hugged me and said "honey I'm so sorry." I left, numb, and went to work. Clocked in, made it a few steps onto the sales floor and broke down. A manager saw me, I asked to leave and he told me to stay out as long as I needed to.

So yeah, I have "cried at work."

A couple years ago I was Christmas shopping at 7am at Walmart, there were a bunch of associates there stocking shelves, I noticed one dude crying his eyes out when he was working. I asked him if he was ok, he told me he just found out his mother died. I told him he should go home and be with family, he insisted his manager wouldn't let him. I told him screw management, take care of yourself first. If they don't let you leave then they aren't worth working for. He kind of just walked away, I hoped to tell his manager he needed to leave. I have no idea what happened and I usually don't do stuff like that but he was in rough shape. Hope he ended up ok. Your story reminded me of that day

 

[Tarantula]

I think it would be awkward seeing a boss crying

If my aim was better he would have...

 

[Tarantula]

I used to work at a fast food concession stand at a CASCAR race track when I was a young 'un. There was a large onion press mounted on a stand and I would cut all the onions for that nights concessions for my first hour. Cried every time, and would still the damn thins on my hands hours later.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Posts like this make me thank my lucky stars I work for a tech company that allows me to work remote 100% of the time. I could not imagine going back to having to watch my non verbal mannerisms

 

[H3ckt1k]

A couple years ago I was Christmas shopping at 7am at Walmart, there were a bunch of associates there stocking shelves, I noticed one dude crying his eyes out when he was working. I asked him if he was ok, he told me he just found out his mother died. I told him he should go home and be with family, he insisted his manager wouldn't let him. I told him screw management, take care of yourself first. If they don't let you leave then they aren't worth working for. He kind of just walked away, I hoped to tell his manager he needed to leave. I have no idea what happened and I usually don't do stuff like that but he was in rough shape. Hope he ended up ok. Your story reminded me of that day

Even if he just walked away, I'm sure he really appreciated hearing something like that. So many terrible managers out there that make the employees feel awful for needing even one day off, even when it's circumstances such as this one. You probably made his day a little bit better than it would have been.

 

[Egg]

he told me he just found out his mother died.

That in itself by law, is a bereavement leave. Any employer refusing to let an employee leave when they are clearly experiencing a level of pain in life, doesn't deserve your services.

It's incredibly tacky to have an employee crying like that at work, and they only hurt their own reputation by being forced to stay.

My mother passed and I was told to take the time I needed. Realistically, I knew I needed to get it together in three days.

But those three days allowed me to get the bulk of the mourning out of my system, plan the funeral service and just deal with stuff I just could not have, if working on top of things.

Honestly. I know someone who was told they couldn't take a day off when their parent died. That they would get fired.

They quit.

Only answer to give to such an employer.

 

[Egg]

terrible managers out there that make the employees feel awful for needing even one day off

I think the slippery slope being a manager, is if you're too flexible, some will abuse of it.

IE I used to be extremely lax on time. Then got someone showing up 40 minutes late, daily. Or calling in sick 4-5 times a month.

Most staff will understand that this is a privilege that can quickly be taken away. But there are the bad apples for whom one must bear down and make someone choose wisely when taking a sick day.

Its a fine art to balance giving full freedom and autonomy, and also not wanting to make anyone feel they can abuse of it without consequence. But also not wanting the 80% of good staff you have to feel punished for a couple idiots.

That one instance you must accept you can't make everyone happy but ensuring what you pick is both fair and clear.

But yeah. A dying parent is an off day, no questions asked. Boggles my mind one would make this difficult.

 

[Andriano224]

I don't think it's normal, although I don't know the whole situation. Maybe you need to take something to calm down. At least for the first time. I recently bought some good candy to help calm you down. It might help you.

 

[Egg]

I don't think it's normal

It isn't to me, if you do it often.

To me, it comes across as someone emotionally stunted, manipulative or dealing with serious health issues, when I see it.

Someone well adjusted, will find better ways to deal with most problems.

 

[Conrad McBenis]

It's even more pathetic to cry online about people's opinion on escalators lmao.

 

[Egg]

It's even more pathetic to cry online about people's opinion on escalators lmao.

Or you being butthurt about it.

 

[Conrad McBenis]

Mentally ill loser being mentally ill publicly lol. Get help bud.

 

[Jiminy Cricket]

My fast casual chain has one of the best mental health programs in the country. If any of our employees are struggling, we give them access to all the treatment they need as well as bereavement leave. No judgment here. However, we recently had one employee coming in every day in tears. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was extremely upset over a thread about escalators on a hockey message board. I fired him on the spot for being such a little bitch. We have no place for that in the company.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

@Egg you are way too emotionally invested in this thread

 

[Tarantula]

A better question to ask is laughing at work ok? My last company didn't think so, especially when directed at management. How so many thin skinned people rise through the ranks...

 

[Egg]

@Egg you are way too emotionally invested in this thread

It is my thread, right?

 

[Egg]

I think a few situations, totally warrant it. However, I have yet to see a non tacky situation of someone being corrected on a performance, and often resorting to tears.

 

[Egg]

Mind you, its timing when it comes down to tears.

Perfectly times, comes across as strength.

 

[Egg]

I walked into a Cafe, and a girl was having a bad day.

She was almost in tears, but was more based on her inability to organize.

Everyone who walked in, left her more rattled than the last.

Just horrific organizational skills.

In this setting, unfortunately, she got zero sympathy as was self inflicted.

 

[Xelebes]

I went thousand-mile stare catatonic at work once. I was crying after that was over.