It’s one of the great dilemmas of workplace culture, especially for women: To cry or not to cry. You get fired, you screw up, you get a phone call with awful news. All you want to do is sob, right there at your desk. But we still have this idea that we ought to value stoicism and decorum over our own vulnerability. So, is it ever acceptable to shed tears in our places of work? We asked three female bosses to weigh in.

“It’s okay to cry at work when it’s authentic. I’m a true believer in bringing your whole self to work with you. And part of parcel of being human is having and expressing feelings. For me, gone are the days of stoic business facades. In my opinion, repressing your feelings, and encouraging your team to do so, ultimately ends in more harm than good.