When Your Boss Is Crying, but You’re the One Being Laid Off

nytimes.com

2 points·hodgesrm··5 comments

The reaction is probably greatly dependent on the boss in question. One who is emotionally open during times of status quo will feel genuine. Ask A Manager recently fielded a post about a boss who thought "connecting" with his team involved quizzing them on the names of his horses and the kinds of grapes he grew in his vineyard, and that comes across as out-of-touch.

I'm old school. Employees have enough to deal with without the boss going all weepy on them when they are processing losing their job. It feels self-indulgent. I honestly don't care how bosses feel in these situations, especially since being the boss has a lot of other advantages. This is one time where leaders need to suck it up and try not to make it about themselves.

Disclaimer: I run a company.

This, entirely. I've been the boss and been the employee, and it's the same either way.

What the boss should do is be empathetic and humane. What the boss should not do is make the people who are adversely impacted by business decisions have to feel sorry for the boss as well.

I agree with both of you, I don't want to feel compelled to attend to my boss' emotional needs. My OP was more how to gauge my reaction if my boss broke down in front of me (during a layoff or no).

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