Quiet Resignation, More like Great Elimination. Acknowledging Black Women + the Current Workforce
While we just wrapped up Black History Month and we're approaching the end of Women's History Month, this post seemed timely.
A year ago in March began what felt like a tsunami within the Black community. Many Black women within the workforce were abruptly removed and displaced from their positions due to circumstances beyond their control. Across 2025 this number soared above 600,000.
This meant that 600,000+ households were impacted. Whether that meant having to leverage the "nest egg" that they had created if they were in a position to have one or make critical decisions to ensure that they did not lose everything and could maintain a roof over their heads. Some did lose everything — even their lives. Many of these women are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, caretakers, and the sole or top income provider within their household. They are/were your colleagues, former colleagues, classmates, PTA buddies, etc. Transparently, these women impacted also includes me.
On March 10th, 2025 I started my work day as usual. Client meetings and what I anticipated to be my quarterly skip-level check in. However, when it came time to connect with my skip level, his facial expression and immediate question changed the entire trajectory of our call and my day.
"Are you in an area where you can speak privately" as he was fighting back tears. I knew what this call meant. "Effective immediately, today is your last day of employment." Those words stung. How did this happen? An over-performer who consistently surpassed their quota by 125% quarter-over-quarter. The same person who just helped to close a multi-hundred million dollar expansion deal for one of our top partners? This call didn't seem right. But it was, and there was nothing that I could do about it. Nor could the people in senior leadership (as they claimed) who were "given a list and had to follow orders". Even they questioned this decision, but as I was told they could not stop my termination. And just like that, days shy of my work anniversary, my employment with this company ended.
In the first few rounds of mass layoffs to come from this company, I was part of the cohort that did not receive a severance. And no, my role was not eliminated under the guise of “AI”. Ironically, it had already been backfilled by someone who was more junior and making about $50K less than I was. Plus, leadership did a phenomenal job of telling my team that on a random Monday I had "made the decision to leave and pursue other opportunities". And just like that I'd officially become fun-employed (emphasis on the "un").
Luckily, I had prepared for a rainy day. But that didn't change the fact that economic inflation accompanied with loss of primary income adds up quickly. Seven months later, I managed to secure another full-time role and began to pick up the pieces of my career within corporate. Going from Senior Manager to a more junior-level role with a severe pay cut stung. And thankfully I'm blessed to have family who were in a position and wanted to help me as I re-calibrated and began rebuilding my life due to circumstances outside of my control.
My story is unfortunately one of many who look like me. We're dealt a difficult hand and have to just take it on the chin. What adds fuel to the fire is that there is misleading language and messaging around what's occurring. "Black women are quietly exiting the corporate workspace" is a headline I've seen too often. Let me be clear — we did NOT choose to leave, we were forced out. And in an even more volatile and unequal workforce, many are left without employment or having to make the very difficult decision when an offer is extended to take a role that is below what they were currently removed from and the pay does not put them back in a position to sufficiently provide for themselves and/or their households.
I will not sugarcoat it, these times that we're currently experiencing are challenging. They are down right unfair and we know that unfortunately this is by design. There have been many Black women who have bravely shared their experiences of disparate treatment within the candidate and hiring process. One story in particular is "Corporate Catfish" who exposed how when she created a fictitious LinkedIn profile as a caucasian woman with the same credentials that she currently has as a Black woman seeking employment opportunities at, the response from recruiters to the two “strong candidates” at the same organizations she had applied to were alarmingly different…
While we know that as a collective, the U.S. is experiencing an increase in unemployment, we must acknowledge the fact that Black women are the minority that is experiencing an influx of unemployment at a severely disproportionate rate. Roughly one out of every thirteen Black women are unemployed. Compared to one out of every twenty-seven caucasian women, that is practically double. And the kicker is this number is not declining.
That being said, I wanted to take a moment to not only acknowledge how traumatic these series of unfortunate events are but also highlight the resilience of Black women. Many of us are raised being warned of how unfair this society can be and that we have to be twice as good and work three times as hard to even be considered for positions and opportunities that we are more than qualified for and are naturally gifted to excel in.
In contrast to such somber statistics and what can be a very heavy reality, there are Black women who are re-entering into the workforce and securing jobs aligned with or exceeding their previous employment. Black women are also leaning into and succeeding within entrepreneurship at astounding rates as well.
I'm so proud of us for continuing to push through when we literally did not have it left to give. And while you're probably rolling your eyes as you read this next line, our resilience has been and always will be a superpower even if we view it as "business as usual". Thank you for giving yourself grace and also continuing to help others even when and if you're still trying to get yourself and family back on solid ground.
Thank you to the allies and advocates for Black women who also continue to help bridge the gap between opportunities that seem so far and few between due to disparities and circumstances that are outside of your control. In a society that feels as though it's become even more harsh and disbanded, there are reminders of community and the hope that collaboration and paying it forward can achieve.
That being said, there is still work to do and many Black women are still working to rebuild the stability that they once had. As an advocate for equity, I'm hoping (read as attempting) to try and spark a ripple effect within our community. Across the rest of 2026 I'll be offering my services and collaborating with peers to help with bridging the gap of bringing stability back into the lives of Black women. I'll do my best to share updates on all of the platforms where The Business Connection has a presence, but the best source for the most up to date information and details will be via our mailing list and website so please sign up if you are not already subscribed.
And while I'm sure that there will be negative comments (because there's always one) let me be clear: yes I understand that this current climate and job market has been brutal to many. However, I AM using MY voice + platform to amplify and advocate for this issue in particular as Black women were and continue to be disproportionately impacted while already being a minority within American society. I'll spare the history lesson because the internet and libraries exist, but if you know — you know.
If you made it this far, I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this fully, along with anyone who has and is willing to continue to help Black women especially within the professional realm. And lastly, I'm sending the biggest virtual hug to every Black woman who continues to show up for themselves and others daily. I will always hold space for you, + if you ever want or need to chat my inbox is always open. You're doing better than you think, and this too shall and will pass!
With so much love, gratitude, + optimism,
Dani ✨