A new Monster.com survey shows that 8-in-10 employees report crying on the job — 45 percent of those because of something a boss or colleague did. Is weeping at work a logical consequence of a capitalist system that promotes profits over people? Is this just a natural part of having large numbers of women in the workplace, and does this emotional sensitivity provide some crucial benefits to employers? Bill Whittle explains how to cope with a jerk at work, and how to realize if you’re that jerk. He speaks from experience after working for years with genius-jerk Jack Horkheimer, the famed PBS Star Gazer.
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Weeping at Work: 8-in-10 Employees Report Crying on the Job
A new Monster.com survey shows that 8-in-10 employees report crying on the job — 45 percent of those because of something a boss or colleague did. Is weeping at work a logical consequence of a capitalist system that promotes profits over people? Is this just a natural part of having large numbers of women in the workplace, and does this emotional sensitivity provide some crucial benefits to employers?
27 replies on “Weeping at Work: 8-in-10 Employees Report Crying on the Job”
When I got a bad boss, I didn’t cry. I retired. And a lot of my colleagues retired as well. Then the boss cried. Good times.
My wife retired this year along with 8 colleagues from a department of 20 ish. Who’s crying now?
What Bill relates is ‘bang ON’. I’ve worked for over 2 dozen Hi-Tech Companys in Silicon Valley and have had great bosses and Jerk bosses. I worked with crews being both majority men and totally women so I can speak from experience. Bill’s dad’s approach is the correct approach, make each member of the team feel important, because they are.
Once I was thrown the challenge of leading a technical department (all women)to produce a sensitive, delicate product I was totally ignorant of. Yes, it was sink or swim. My first day, I inquired who was the department lead worker, drew her privately aside and told her bluntly, “Look, They’ve appointed me the manager but you know the people here and the process so you’re the boss. Whatever you need, I’ll get it for you. I’ll keep management off your back and help in anyway I can. And, BTW, if you could, in your spare time, could you teach me what it is we’re doing?” The result was we always made quota, the team was happy and productive and I learned a lot about chemical etching microwave substrates for Hi-Rel microcircuits.
It is nothing to do with economics. It is everything to do with human relationships.
I am surprised that you didn’t mention the millennials (or whatever the generation after them is)… maybe they just don’t know the meaning of work. I mean that in a positive way (I think), they may be easily offended at being told what to do?
Also, women are a lot more hormonal than men (been there, done that, but I don’t recall ever really crying at work), and harsh words have a greater effect on them.
I worked with a lot of men during my career, and learned how to behave like them, and to enjoy working with them.
I think Capitalism or the Free Market relies both on the customers of companies knowing about the company and its product and choosing the best for them. It might not be the cheapest, but should be the best value. The employee needs to choose the best employment option as well, and some of the issues people decry as part of the reason socialism is supposed to be good would go away if employees spoke back in a reasonable and responsible way (not as unions demanding heaven on earth via overcompensating wages and benefits) or leaving a bad company. A company that cannot sell its products because it produces junk, or cannot make them because it pays too little or works people too hard should have the same result: bankruptcy and closure or a correction and survival.
In grad school I worked at a manufacturing company that the production staff was mostly women. At that point (88-89) I thought people crying at work was an everyday occurrence. Just not the same person everyday.
I cried when I left; it was like having 100 moms.
What is the breakdown of men and women? Inquiring minds must know!
Aha, it was the Carlton Beach that Bill’s father worked at, Ive been asking that question for a few weeks , I honeymooned there in Oct of 72 when it was the Sonesta.
Sonesta beach hotel in Bermuda. That’s where we honeymooned. 94 for us.
NEVER, EVER let them see you cry at work. It’s a sure-fire way to not ever get promoted. As a woman, this was the rule I applied and I taught the women who worked for me to apply that rule as well. If you can’t hold the tears back, go into the restroom or somewhere away from the work area. In 27+ years in my career, I cried in front of others only once and that was when I was called by my husband’s doctor and told that he had two weeks left of his life. But if you’re crying because your boss got firm, or even rude with you, you either take it like a big girl or give it back to them – whatever is appropriate. It may sound mean, but it’s real life.
BTW, guys….
There were times, on camera, when each of you cried, for various and sundry reasons. Not just a girl thing, my friends…
The past year and a half had been extremely stressful for me.
I was working with a teacher who was very near retirement. She was battling cancer, so she was taking hormones that switched her personality to total shrew. She made my life miserable, and quite a few times I would do exactly what Bill described…steel myself in the morning for the day’s onslaught. It was so bad that one of my students cried hysterically over Spring break, saying she didn’t want to go back to school because of this teacher.
She did finally retire in June, thank God. Looking forward to a year with far less stress and personal attacks. However, the damage is done. It will be my last year at this school, and only because I made a promise to a student that I wouldn’t leave until she graduates. Otherwise, I would be gone already.
As far as crying at work, aside from this teacher, I cry mostly for happy moments, of which there are many.
It doesn’t have to be the boss to make a workplace toxic.
There are toxic people, best to remove them from your life whether boss, co-worker, spouse, acquaintance,other. No need to have toxic people in your life.
Also, guys (generally) deal with overwhelming work stress of this variety differently. We don’t cry. But drink, eat too much; yea we do that.
I left a job years ago with a very toxic boss. Would scream and belittle people all over the place. I didn’t realize how stressed I was until I left. 3 months later I bumped into a former co-worker whose first question was what did I do to lose 25 pounds. I quit working there.
Ralph, being 100% Sicilian heritage…Do you mean like “really remove” them?
Ha, when I typed that I actually paused and then said, nah no one will take it that way. I am half Italian from the Bronx originally and people have often wondered. Helped with my daughter’s first few boyfriends though.
But in this case I was not referring to disappearing anyone. Not as a first choice.
Your Honor, I was on Miami Beach with 100 of my good friends when that terrible “accident” happened.
Agree… some of my most toxic work situations were not because of a bad boss, but because of mentally unstable co-workers. I’ve had my work sabotaged and have been the victim of smear campaigns by co-workers who were envious of the awards and recognition I received. Not fun.
Ok, so a “strong hand” at work isn’t good business in today’s workplace, did I get that right? I disagree, the method it is applied can be different from place to place, sometimes it’s absolutely necessary.
I think there is a difference between a strong hand and being a jerk. There is nothing wrong with trying to get the maximum out of your people. There is also a way of doing it without being a tyrant. I believe that is what the boys were driving at. There is a big difference between tyrant and leader. I’m sure you are most likely referring to those people that are at every job who don’t do well under any type of leadership. Not self motivated, constantly in need of monitoring, etc. The only advice I can give there is being direct. Again not mean, just direct.
There’s no crying in baseball.
Had to be said.
Beat me to it!
I haven’t had adult supervision at work for over a year now. I think the boss is supposed to be back this week.
This is really silly. I know someone who has cried at work more than once, but that was due to severe problems in life outside of work. I really doubt all of these people are crying because of work conditions. Naturally, it doesn’t answer how many of them are women. They aren’t going to provide any context when it isn’t helpful to them, and it rarely is.
I’m referring to the article being silly. Attempting to indict capitalism like this when it has nothing to do with capitalism, or in other circumstances, anything else the Left hates or pretends to hate, is a constantly used obnoxious tactic.
Agree, capitalism isn’t the culprit at all. I’ll admit to having covertly cried at work a few times because of work-related issues and jerks, but I cried more when I was out of work (meaning unemployed), which a lot of people are, under Socialism.
Actually, the study acknowledged that some of the crying at the workplace is due to situations at home or elsewhere away from work. That’s why we focused on the 45 percent who say they’ve cried due to a boss or colleague.
oh.