Some employees across the United States are doing the bare minimum at work — a phenomenon called "quiet quitting." But many employees of color say they can't afford the risk of stepping back in the workplace.
Guests on Basic Black said it's often easier for white employees to "quiet quit," and good management to keep employees satisfied can prevent workers from just doing the bare minimum.
Lauren Hunter-Dyson, chief people and diversity officer with the New England Aquarium, said when some "quiet quit," other don't and have to pick up the slack. That imbalance can create inequities.
But she said the onus is on employers to make their employees feel valued and respected in the workplace. At the New England Aquarium, she said if a role is vacant and other employees are picking up extra work until it gets filled, they will be compensated for that extra work.
"At one point, people were passionate about work, but they felt taken advantage of, they felt undervalued. And if we can bring back the fun and the value at work, you may see people start to pour back into the workplace," Hunter-Dyson said. "But until that happens, it definitely will be a defining moment."
Malia Lazu, CEO and founder of The Lazu Group and a lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management said good management is essential in making sure workers aren't burned out, especially as studies show there are higher levels of burnout among workers of color.
"I do think it's really incumbent on a good manager to make sure that people are working where and how they're supposed to in a healthy way, and if they're not doing it, then you're not managing it right," Lazu said.
Melissa James, chief growth officer with IBIS Consulting Group, said not only do employees of color not "quiet quit," but Black employees often work more than one job — something she herself did for many years after watching her parents do the same.
James said especially after the pandemic, the question for many employees is if they are being recognized for their efforts at work and whether workplace politics affect that.
"So many times when we came into the workplace, we wanted to prove our worth. Productivity was a way to measure our worth, and to be able to showcase that to your manager. I think we all believe that we would get rewarded for that," James said.
WATCH: Basic Black tackles "quiet quitting" — or not — among workers of color
