Crying at work is common - but how should you handle it?

Crying at work is far more common than workplace convention suggests, with one recent survey finding close to half of in-person workers had done it.

Employment researchers Robyn Johns and Rowena Ditzell argue the problem is rarely the tears themselves but the awkwardness that follows. A manager who freezes, changes the subject or treats the moment as a discipline issue can turn an ordinary emotional response into a lasting rupture in trust.

Their advice is practical: acknowledge what is happening without commentary, offer a short break, and return to the substance of the conversation when the person is ready. Avoid interpreting tears as weakness or manipulation, and be alert to whether you would respond the same way regardless of who was crying.

There is also a fairness dimension. Research consistently finds emotional displays are judged differently depending on gender and seniority, which means an inconsistent response is not just uncomfortable but potentially discriminatory.