Work Problems: Celebrity Edition
Adele, professionalism, and the NFL | 3-min read
I pride myself on setting fairly strict limits around the time I dedicate to celebrity news, but the past month has been truly exceptional. At the same time, famous people have jobs, too; so what others may call "celebrity gossip," we're going to rebrand here as "labor market research."
The Gossip
Adele's "unprofessionalism"
First, mega-pop star Adele made a "shocking" announcement that she was canceling her entire Las Vegas residency 24 hours before the first scheduled performance. In an emotional video recorded on minimal sleep, she explained that major logistical hurdles and severe COVID-related staff shortages left her with little option but to postpone the tour. While many fans supported the decision, many others exploded in anger, calling the last-minute move "unprofessional."
Interestingly, what we consider "professional" in many contexts has proven problematic. Research has found that our most common associations with professionalism are riddled with race, gender, and socioeconomic biases. We also equate being "professional" with prioritizing work above all else, an attitude I often refer to here as "toxic productivity." Adele's decision to protect her talent and her team in the face of clearly impossible circumstances is one from which we can all learn.
Rachel Maddow's "hiatus" vs. Tom Brady's "thrilling ride"
Ten days later came the headline that Rachel Maddow, MSNBC host, was taking a "hiatus" from her on-air gig. The word "hiatus," repeated across several major media outlets, suggested Maddow would be taking a break or, at the very least, time off; but the facts, barely covered in the articles, revealed that she was stepping away from the show to work on a podcast with NBCUniversal and a major Hollywood film. This is far from a "break" in my book.
Headline from the New York Times
This may not have caught my attention had it not been for the Tom Brady retirement announcement that came shortly after. Rather than framing it as a "break" or "quitting," the media focused on his accomplishments and exciting retirement plans. Headlines referred to his career as a "thrilling ride" and loudly covered the dream-home he and his wife were building in an exclusive enclave of Miami Beach.
Why, I wonder, was Maddow's sabbatical presented as time "off" that would burden MSNBC with a gaping "hole" – as written in the New York Times headline above – while Brady's retirement was a chance to celebrate a successful career? The contrast says a lot about the unconscious bias that plagues our views of men and women at work – a topic I will dive into much more in future pieces.
Brian Flores' class-action suit
Then, on the same day of Brady's announcement came the news that Brian Flores, NFL coach, was filing a class-action lawsuit against the league and three of its teams for hiring discrimination. The case highlights not only Flores' personal experience with discrimination but wider systemic issues in an industry where 74% of players identify as people of color vs. 13% of coaches.
Flores is the latest in a long stream of athletes of color who are taking a stand against what I call hostile work environments – a topic I covered in a piece last summer: "What the Media Missed on Simone Biles."
As Flores told NPR in an interview, "… this isn't about me. This is about…something that's much bigger than me, which is a system in the NFL that, in my opinion, is broken as far as hiring practices for Black and minority coaches."
So what?
To echo Flores, these headlines reveal something much bigger than just celebrity gossip. Each story shines a spotlight on some of the deepest and most widespread problems with our workplaces: unconscious bias, hiring discrimination, under-representation of minority groups in leadership, and overwhelming pressure to perform under any circumstances – factors that are driving record resignations, epidemic burnout, and an entire anti-work movement.
On the bright side, each also represents a person bravely and visibly speaking out against systems and practices that are exhausting so many workers worldwide.
Below are a few links that provide additional context around the issues I discussed above. And whether you read those pieces or not, may this blog serve as proof that a little celebrity news scrolling from time to time can be harnessed for good.
For the curious…
On rethinking what we call "professional"
Our Biases Undermine Our Colleagues' Attempts to Be Authentic | Harvard Business Review | 7-min read
How the pandemic can help us reframe our relationship with productivity:
How the pandemic could redefine our productivity obsession | BBC | 8-min read
On the toxic workplace of professional sports:
What the Media Missed on Simone Biles | Melina’s Out of Office | 7-min read
On gender representation in the entertainment industry:
Video interview with female directors Eva Longoria Bastón, Chloe Okuno, and Krystin Ver Linden | The Atlantic | 28-min watch
