A recent survey of 600 U.S. workers highlights just how widespread this hidden stress has become—and why HR leaders need to pay attention.
Coined by resume.io, cry masking describes a growing phenomenon where employees who feel emotionally overwhelmed on the job go to extreme lengths to hide it. They step away to hide tears, suppress breakdowns,and put on a calm, composed face for peers while privately struggling underneath.
Feeling overwhelmed at work is becoming the norm. According to the survey:
- 1 in 4 workers (24.50%) admit they have cried at work—or because of work—in the past six months.
- Nearly half (48.83%) have either cried or felt close to tears during that same period.
- 87.07% of employees who cried at work kept it completely hidden from their colleagues.
As Amanda Augustine, certified professional career coach and resident career expert for resume.io, points out, these numbers signal a deeper issue within workplace culture.