1 in 3 Employees Have Cried at Work, Most Feel Pressure to Hide It
Zety Report Explores Emotional Masking, Strain & Gaps in Psychological Safety
Wednesday, October 1st 2025 - A new survey from career platform Zety® uncovers the hidden emotional toll of workplace stress - and what Dr. Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety, calls corporate masking: employees feeling compelled to hide their emotions in order to appear professional.
According to the Workplace Emotional Safety Report, based on responses from over 1,000 employees, nearly 1 in 3 workers say they have cried at work, yet most report feeling pressure to conceal their struggles. These findings point to a deeper, often overlooked dimension of workplace stress: the burden of silent emotional labor.
Key Findings
- Masking emotions is common: 67% of employees have hidden their feelings at work to appear professional.
- Work stress drives tears: 61% have felt overwhelmed to the point of tears in the past year, and 30% have cried in front of a coworker or manager.
- Burnout is widespread: 43% cite chronic stress and 42% cite heavy workloads as top triggers.
- Judgment is real: 44% feel judged when they show stress, and 1 in 3 have been told to “toughen up” or “leave feelings at the door.”
- Support gaps persist: Just 16% would turn to their manager for help, while many lean on peers, friends, or family.
The State of Psychological Safety
- Only 32% rate their workplace’s psychological safety as high.
- 1 in 3 feel uncomfortable expressing negative emotions at all.
- 1 in 4 say they wouldn’t feel safe telling their manager if their mental health were suffering.
“These numbers show that many employees don’t feel fully safe to be themselves at work,” says Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at Zety. “When people mask their emotions, it hurts individuals, and it also impacts workplaces by limiting openness, trust, and collaboration.”
Emotional Strain and Burnout
- Workplace pressures are fueling strain: 1 in 4 feel emotionally drained multiple times a week, and 1 in 10 say they feel this way daily.
- Top causes: conflict with managers or colleagues (29%), lack of recognition (28%), toxic culture (23%).
- 36% have reported a false reason when taking a mental health day; 7% avoid mental health leave entirely.
Barriers to Speaking Up
Employees often silence themselves after being invalidated:
- 1 in 3 have been told to “calm down” or “toughen up.”
- 21% say colleagues dismiss their emotions, while 14% say peers are unaware altogether.
- 36% have reported a false reason when taking a mental health day, and 7% avoid mental health leave entirely.
Methodology
The findings presented are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Zety UK using Pollfish on July 30, 2025. The survey collected responses from 1,023 U.S. workers, examining their experiences and perceptions related to emotional safety in the workplace, including stressors, burnout, barriers to expressing feelings, coping strategies, and overall psychological safety. Respondents answered different types of questions, including yes/no, scale-based questions where they indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options. The sample consisted of 50% female and 50% male respondents, with 15% Gen Z, 33% Millennials, 35% Gen X, and 17% Baby Boomers.
About Zety
Zety’s articles follow strict editorial guidelines. Zety resume templates and Zety's resume and cover letter generator are trusted by 12 million users each year. With 100s of options to choose from, including professionally designed resume templates to beat the ATS, users can create a professional resume in less than 15 minutes. Since 2016, Zety’s career bloghas provided free data-driven insights to over 40 million readers annually, empowering professionals at every stage. The editorial team includes Certified Professional Resume Writers, with the best career advice and evidence-based findings featured in Business Insider, CNBC, and Forbes, among others. Follow Zety on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, X, andInstagram for free expert career tips and updates.
