Just cried at work in front of my line manager, tell me it will be ok?

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Ugh. Just cried - thankfully over teams ... the trigger was being asked if I'm ok. Turns out I'm not.. it's not work or performance related, but things going on at home. I'm just super embarrassed and apologised profusely. I'm now scared I'm going to be fired. I'm not sleeping well at the moment and worried about everything.

My manager was reassuring and nice about the whole thing. But it wasn't very professional.

Someone tell me it will be ok?

I've cried and I've made people cry by asking if they are okay 😅 it happens, people aren't robots.

Crikey, I've had countless line managees cry - I'm sure you won't have been her first. Why would you be fired? You are allowed to be a human being!

She will probably want to check in with you a bit more, if she's a good manager. It's ok to say that you would prefer not to talk to her about personal stuff if you'd rather not.

Don’t worry, DH is a manager and people cry to him all the time about all sorts of things! I’m sure I’ve cried to a manager before now too, not recently because all of my recent managers have been hands off but I suspect I’ll end up crying to my new manager because she’s lovely!

Apologise for crying? Really? Crying is perfectly normal and does not require an apology.

OP honestly your manager won’t think it’s a big deal. I’ve cried in front of my manager many times and it’s fine. I’m sure they will have had others cry in front of them too. You won’t be alone in this.

Apologise for crying at work. It isn’t a good look, even if human. I’ve done it precisely twice in a 36 year career due to shit going on at home, and a quick apology from me made me feel better about being a bit unprofessional in the moment. Nothing wrong with that.

You won’t get fired. I have had plenty of people cry over the years, and might have done it once or twice myself. It happens. Don't phone and explain it, you might cry again if you’re still feeling a bit fragile!

Do not spend time worrying about it, next time you see her thank her for being supportive. I’m a very senior people director, honestly, people don’t get fired for having a bit of a moment.

however, if you have a lot on your plate, are worried about things and having trouble sleeping, do ask if there’s an employee assistance programme. These things are very under used, but that’s what they’re there for!

Please consider contacting your GP for some help with your mental health/anxiety.

Sometimes life is stressful and can affect other areas of your life such as work.

My husband is a manager and his team is bar one member all male;he's had more than one staff member in tears in his office because of stuff happening in their personal lives and it hasn't been his female staff member at any point.

As a manager he feels it's important to support his staff both professionally and personally when they're having a tough time of it.

I've had loads of people cry on me and I've cried in front of my manager as well, it'll be fine. I hope things improve for you.

Same. Even grown men.

Oh op I’m so sorry to hear you’re having a tough time. I hope things resolve themselves soon 🌷

try not to worry about this. It’ll be fine, promise. You won’t be in Trouble.

Of course you won't be fired! Honestly, I have a colleague who cries frequently. She hates it but really can't help it. None of us judge her, especially not our line manager. We're all human. It's fine.

It happens, it has happened to me a few times over 35 years of working and has never been held against me.

I have always found, especially as I have gotten older and my skin thicker, being open and honest works much better than holding it in.

A simple sorry I was a bit weepy I've got a lot going on at home (elaborate briefly if you want) and when you asked if I was ok it just set me off, hopefully things will resolve themselves soon.

Everybody has an off day, you're only human, management should be supportive, not sacking you x

Bless you! I have been a manager for 20 years in all kinds of different organisations and have had staff cry on me on many occasions. I am a Director now and one of my direct reports cried last week! My only concern is for them, not for anything else and your line manager sounds kind. You know that things are hard for you now though and have surprised yourself. So have a think about what you can do to get through this.

Oh my god, I’ve cried at my line manager multiple times and once at my big boss! I’ve had two colleagues cry at me this week. It’s human. It’s totally fine. Don’t sweat it at all xxx

Same thing happened last week with me and my director.

He checked if I was okay and it just set me off. I never bloody cry!

These things happen.

I've cried at least 6 times with my line manager ! We work in Camhs, it's fucking normal

Same! And it didn’t remotely make me think less of her, she’s still a fantastic director.

I’m the shoulder to cry on for a lot of my team, and more often than not it’s personal problems.
I’d rather they get things out in the open so I can offer what support we can-we have an EAP scheme etc. Does your employer have anything like that?

Dont worry at all!
Once had a loss prevention auditor came to my store I managed and I was so scared (i hadn't done anything wrong, just such a scary man!) I cried and he said to me "youre a manager- who fires more people- me or you?" Through tears i was like "me"
I laugh about it now!!

My god, I've never had a manager that I've NOT cried in front of. It goes with the job! Any manager that can't handle it, should not be in the role.

Agree it's part of their job description. Non issue. Don't worry about it op.

saying the word “shit” to your manager is much more unprofessional than crying in front of them, so I wouldn’t do this.

I’ve cried on my manager and my team have cried on me. We all support each other and it’s certainly not sackable. If you need some support your manager should see that and take care of your wellbeing.

I've cried multiple times at work and every time I've felt embarrassed but it's actually fine and the more you talk to people the more you realise lots of people have done it. Stress affects us all and sometimes it just comes out. I'd leave it and maybe make a joke about it next time you talk. Your manager probably just felt concerned for you and won't think much of it past that x