I subscribe to the Harvard Business Review mail list, which fires over all sorts of titbits, some good, some odd and some controversial
So this came through and have pasted below. With a business owner or manager head on, what do you think?
Don’t Apologise for Crying at Work
People are often told they shouldn’t cry at work. For women especially, shedding tears can be seen as a sign of weakness. But crying is a normal biological response to stress, frustration, or sadness. So if you break down at work, don’t apologise or allow others to accuse you (explicitly or implicitly) of being unprofessional.
If you’re not embarrassed about crying, others won’t be either. Own your tears. Take a breath, and then say something like, “As you can see, I really care about this topic.” Let yourself laugh about it, if you can — often that will relieve the tension and make you and everyone else feel more comfortable.
On the other hand, if you begin sobbing, excuse yourself and leave the room until you calm down. But when you come back, or the next time you’re with that group, bring up what happened and talk about it transparently.
Source taken from: Harvard Business Review - Why Is Crying at Work Such a Big Deal?
As an older male and programmed in the 1970's, I would certainly struggle with crying employees. I like to think I'd be sympathetic and have had to deal with employee issues over the years, but to date, never had someone breakdown in tears.
Be interesting to hear some thoughts on this, both male and female.