Is It Ever Okay To Cry At Work?

Here’s a confession: almost every day, at some point, I’m at my desk or in a meeting, and feel an urge to burst into tears and become an IRL version of the Kim K crying meme. These in-office ugly cries can be triggered by anything: my boss not liking my idea or an e-mail I sent prematurely (so many typos!). If you’re guilty of puddle on-the-keyboard workplace meltdowns too, take heart – we’re not alone. Forty-one percent of women report that they’ve cried on the job, according to a survey conducted by Anne Kreamer, author of It’s Always Personal: Navigating Emotion In The New Workplace.

- Danielle Kam

Why the cry?

‘Tears are like the “check engine” light on a car dashboard: next time you feel them coming or slipping out, pay attention,’ says Kreamer. ‘Most women who cry at work aren’t doing so because they’re sad. They’re angry and frustrated.’ If you can manage to pause in the moment and ID the reason for the waterworks, it can help you come up with constructive ways to rebound faster and get back to being on top at work. So ask yourself key questions: do you feel disrespected? Are you not being given the right resources to do your job? Is someone on your team always taking credit for your work? Then find a way to address the issue, whether that means having a candid convo with the HBIC about your needs or confronting that credit hog.