Everyone knows keeping emotions in check isn’t always easy. But is it ever OK to express feelings of sadness or frustration on the job? According to a new survey from staffing firm Accountemps, more than four in 10 workers (45 percent) have admitted to crying at work. About the same proportion of CFOs (44 percent) said shedding tears is acceptable as long as it’s not an everyday occurrence.
Employees are harder on themselves than executives: 32 percent of workers compared to 26 percent of CFOs said crying is never acceptable at the office.
Workers and CFOs were asked, “How does crying at work impact your reputation?” Their responses:
Workers |
CFOs |
|
Crying is OK from time to time, but doing it too often can undermine career prospects |
38% |
44% |
Crying has no negative effect — it shows you’re human |
31% |
30% |
Crying is never OK at work — people will perceive you as weak or immature |
32% |
26% |
101%* |
100% |
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.
Workers were also asked, “Have you ever cried at work?” Their responses:
Yes |
45% |
No |
55% |
100% |
Additional findings:
View an infographic on how emotions are perceived at work.
“We’re all human, and sometimes emotions can get the best of us,” said Michael Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps. “Workplace challenges are inevitable, but how you respond and move forward can demonstrate your professionalism, resilience and emotional intelligence.”
Steinitz added, “Thinking before reacting will not only help your professional reputation, but also show that you are considerate of your colleagues. Frequent emotional displays can be disruptive to coworkers and ultimately damage your work relationships.”
Here are five scenarios that can test even the coolest head and advice for handling each with professionalism and emotional intelligence:
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