In 2022, the administration of Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a general agreement on acoso laboral, workplace harassment. It describes conduct “con el objetivo de intimidar, excluir, opacar, aplanar, amedrentar o consumir emocional o intelectualmente” (with the aim of intimidating, excluding, overshadowing, flattening, frightening or consuming emotionally or intellectually) a person. A 2014 thesis of the Court’s First Chamber had used almost the same words.
Exposed from the Balcony
Balconear, from balcón, balcony, is Mexican slang for exposing someone in public. Cultura Colectiva defines it as making a person’s private life public, or mocking something that should not be known. Its example is “Balconeó a su jefe y lo corrieron” (He exposed his boss, and he was fired). In December 2020, Uno TV used the word for teachers who had been balconeados during online classes.
Never in Front of Subordinates
Article 35 of Mexico’s General Regulation of Military Duties, published in the Diario Oficial on March 26, 1937, asks a soldier to show “consideración y deferencia a los inferiores” (consideration and deference to subordinates). It adds that he will “nunca hará observaciones, ni correcciones en presencia de inferiores, ni de personas extrañas” (never make remarks or corrections in front of subordinates or of outsiders).
Article 50 defines the reprimand. The superior points out the fault, “invitándolo a corregirse” (inviting him to correct himself). The reprimand is given so that no one of lower rank than the person concerned “se aperciba de ella” (becomes aware of it).
Where It Hurts Most
On August 19, 2021, the columnist Raymundo Riva Palacio listed in El Financiero occasions on which President López Obrador had contradicted members of his own government in public.
Of Finance Secretary Arturo Herrera, he wrote that the president “lo desmintió y descalificó, dejándolo en ridículo” (contradicted and discredited him, leaving him looking ridiculous). Of Alfonso Romo, he wrote: “lo exhibió ante el sector empresarial” (he exposed him before the business community).
Riva Palacio described the president’s way of criticizing his officials with the words “públicamente, donde duele más” (publicly, where it hurts most).
The Dressing Room
In December 2025, the Argentine former player Diego Latorre told ClaroSports about his time at Cruz Azul. After the club lost the Invierno 1999 final to Pachuca, he said, the club’s president, Guillermo “Billy” Álvarez, came into the dressing room and insulted the players. Latorre answered him back. “Firmé la sentencia” (I signed my sentence), he said. Months later, he was told the club no longer counted on him.
He described club owners in Mexico at the time: they “entraban al vestuario cuando las cosas no funcionaban y te insultaban, te decían de todo” (came into the dressing room when things were not working and insulted the players, called them everything).
A Scolding at the Bench
On November 1, 2026, in a Liga MX match between Santos and Necaxa, the Necaxa coach Juan Reynoso substituted the striker Juan Valencia and then scolded him sharply at the bench. Television cameras then showed Valencia on the bench, crying, with his jersey over his face. Publimetro ran the story under the words “Escándalo en Necaxa” (Scandal at Necaxa).
Reynoso then explained himself. “Quería, levantándole la voz, que reaccione y no se sienta culpable” (By raising my voice, I wanted him to react and not to feel guilty). He added: “Juanito es un muchacho espectacular” (Juanito is a spectacular young man).
Praise in Public, Scold in Private
In October 2017, the Mexican marketing magazine Merca2.0 published a column by Leoncio Cruz titled “Se felicita en público y se regaña en privado” (Praise in public, scold in private). The column repeats the rule in capital letters: “SE PREMIA EN PÚBLICO Y SE CASTIGA EN PRIVADO” (Reward in public, punish in private).
Due Consideration
Article 132 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law lists the duties of employers. Fraction VI requires them to “guardar a los trabajadores la debida consideración, absteniéndose de mal trato de palabra o de obra” (show workers due consideration and refrain from mistreating them in word or deed).
Under Article 51, a worker may end the employment, without liability, when the employer or the employer’s representatives commit “injurias, hostigamiento y/o acoso sexual, malos tratamientos u otros análogos” (insults, harassment and/or sexual harassment, mistreatment or other similar acts) against the worker.
Making Somebody Nobody
In El laberinto de la soledad, Octavio Paz recalls the answer of a maid who was asked who was in the next room: “No es nadie, señor, soy yo” (It is nobody, sir, it is me).
In the same chapter, “Máscaras mexicanas,” Paz describes el ninguneo: “El ninguneo es una operación que consiste en hacer de Alguien, Ninguno” (Ninguneo is an operation that consists of making Somebody into Nobody).
The Workplace Standard on Psychosocial Risk
Since October 23, 2019, Mexican employers have had to comply with the official standard NOM-035-STPS-2018 on psychosocial risk at work. It defines workplace violence as acts of harassment or mistreatment that can harm a worker’s integrity or health. Mistreatment includes “insultos, burlas, humillaciones y/o ridiculizaciones” (insults, mockery, humiliation and/or ridicule).
One of the standard’s questionnaires asks workers about statements such as “Recibo críticas constantes a mi persona y/o trabajo” (I receive constant criticism of my person and/or my work).