#2 Race, Resignation, and Reflection: Will we learn from Stan Grant's experience?
Stan Grant was the host of Q&A, a popular current affairs program on the ABC. He resigned from his job after receiving extensive racist abuse and threats on social media, after he hosted the ABC’s coverage of the King’s coronation on May 6. He also stated that he felt that his employer the ABC failed to support him publicly and refute the lies that were spread about him by some other media outlets. So, he decided to pursue other opportunities that would allow him to express himself freely and authentically. His resignation sparked a walkout by some ABC staff who showed solidarity with him and protested against racism and discrimination.
Stan Grant's powerful and emotional farewell speech from his role at the ABC highlighted his dissatisfaction and disappointment with his employer and the larger media fraternity. His public resignation sheds light on an important workplace aspect in a multicultural society like ours - racism. I feel it also highlights the intensity of emotions one can feel whilst doing their job. Our fight or flight mode is always active. It's too hard to simple be 'professional' when you are being personally attacked.
Emotions, both positive and negative, are a part of our work lives. However, while emotions like curiosity and excitement are celebrated, emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger, confusion, and overwhelm are often seen as undesirable in the workplace and can lead to terrible outcomes.
Stan's experience also made me think about and connect two important workplace concepts: psychological safety and burnout, and what can happen when one faces racism in the workplace.
"Psychological safety is not about being nice, nor is it about lowering performance standards. It is about providing a supportive context in which people can engage in learning, innovation, and risk-taking." Amy Edmondson
Stan took a risk by presenting a different point of view to the Australian public during his special. However, he was met with intense backlash, which was amplified by his employer's silence and lack of support. In any team when psychological safety is lacking, it can lead to burnout, which is a state of chronic workplace stress that remains unmanaged. Stan probably experienced symptoms of burnout, including anxiety, detachment, hopelessness, and reduced professional efficacy. The intensity of these emotions led him to quit his job.
As a result of Stan's resignation and the nature of his departure, other ABC workers' morale suffered. Lack of support can cause high-performing, long-term employees to quit. There is no substitute for the essential support that is needed, especially for people being discriminated against, such as Stan, who belongs to a minority group in Australia. Employee engagement initiatives, perks, or team building activities cannot compensate for what is needed, especially for people facing discrimination.
I wonder could the leadership at ABC have done more to support their employee? Is it really that hard, if so, I would love to know why? Now-days even cafes have boards up saying, "Abuse towards our employees will not be tolerated." So, what happened in this case?
Leadership is not an invitation to a comfortable life; it is a call to a courageous one. - Brené Brown
Stan's story like many before his serves as a yet another wake-up call that we seem to keep snoozing for both employers and employees. It highlights the critical need to establish psychologically safe and healthy workplaces where all individuals can flourish and develop. Supporting colleagues who face racism and discrimination and acknowledging our emotions while taking action to address stress and burnout, is so importance. If you are a numbers person, burnout costs our economy $14.81 billion per year (2019).
In instances like the case of Stan, where inaction is cited as a reason for resignation and the problem lies with leadership, majority of people simply choose to leave. It is ironic that one of ABC's core values is "Respect," but without employers and employees upholding these values, they become empty words.
Stan's story calls for empathy, support, and kindness in the face of workplace challenges faced by any employee but especially those who are facing racism.
Ask yourself if your employee would feel safe enough to bring something like this up to you?
Ask yourself what you would do if someone on your team faced what Stan did?
To leaders who are reading this and are determined to provide their teams with a safe space, here are some of my steps I suggest that are in your control:
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Simply - CARE
Empathy is the ability to step outside of your own bubble and see the world through the lens of another. It is the key that unlocks understanding, connection, and collaboration in the workplace.
It is our collective responsibility to foster a society where racism and discrimination are not tolerated, and where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect in their workplaces.
Approximately 30% of Australia's population was born overseas in 2021, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up about 3.3% of the country's total population, we cannot overlook the importance of providing this level of safety to our minority population. How is it that racism still persists in 2023?
In light of Stan Grant's experience, one might question whether more could have been done from an employer support perspective.
References:
1. Stan Grant (2023). Why I’m walking away from Q&A - ABC News https://youtu.be/kbITk8cDBjg - Stans speech.
2. ABC workers walk off job in support of Stan Grant’s resignation - news.com.au
3. Stan Grant (2021). With the Falling of the Dusk: A Chronicle of the World in Crisis - HarperCollins
4. Amy Edmondson (2018). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth - Wiley
5.Christina Maslach et al (2001). Job Burnout - Annual Review of Psychology
6.https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/from-the-great-attrition-to-the-great-adaptation. From the great attrition to the great adaptation
7.Medibank:?The Cost of Workplace Stress in Australia, 2019