By Ian Ferguson
For many years, the Bahamian corporate community has been challenged in keeping the workforce fully engaged and highly productive. Many discussions have been held to determine what can be done to encourage the Bahamian worker to be more efficient in the delivery and execution of duties.
Even before we discuss and determine why we are so challenged, it might prove beneficial to uncover the root causes of our lacklustre attitudes towards work. To begin this process, we look at the origins of the majority of the working class population and, in doing so, analyse the domesticated mindset towards work established by our forefathers.
The two immediate questions then, that we must ask and answer, are simply: “What were the conditions like for African slaves in the Bahamas that led to the attitudes we see demonstrated on the job”, and “What are those negative and positive attributes that we have inherited?”
Craton, Albury, Saunders and many other historians, who have written about the slave conditions on the Bahamian plantations, all agree that in comparison to other regional plantations, they were ‘privileged slaves’. Consider, for a moment, how deeply these ‘privileges’ were extended to the Bahamian slave:
There were few separations of families on the Bahamian plantation. It was quite common to have generations of slave families living together.
The whip and slave driver were seldom present on the Bahamian plantation. Slave beatings were few and far between, and there was far less cruelty demonstrated on the Bahamian plantation than elsewhere.
The Bahamian plantation, in comparison, was much smaller than other regional plantations, and slave owners seemed to develop quite close relationships with their slaves.
There were no Sugar Cane, Tobacco, Cocoa plantations in the Bahamas and, as such, the back-breaking, laborious work seen throughout the region was not to be found on these plantations.
It was quite common on a Bahamian plantation for slaves to be given Sundays and special holidays off. They were even encouraged to engage in religious and cultural services and festivities.
Life expectancy was relatively high in comparison to other plantations throughout the Caribbean and, in fact, there were Bahamian slaves who lived to be quite old.
Each of these observations provides a quite descriptive snapshot view of the types of freedoms afforded the Bahamian slave, which seem to dictate and justify much of the workplace behaviour we see exhibited even today. Without determining or casting judgment on which of these behaviors serve us well from those that have proven destructive, here are a few of the inherited values we have seemingly received from the plantation:
Familiarity with leadership - There sometimes seem to be very blurred lines, and often crossed lines, with respect to leaders. The employee feels quite comfortable taking certain liberties, unaware or unconcerned about the consequences of those actions.
Sense of entitlement - Privilege and familiarity often leads to the spirit of: ‘I’m entitled’ or ‘You owe me’.
Laid back and passive - There seems to be a very blas� approach to duties and assignments in the local workforce. The sense of urgency to complete tasks seems secondary at best.
Close workplace ties and affiliations - People usually form very close relationships with their fellow team members, and will extend themselves at great lengths to help and show concern for co-workers in distress. Most persons in the Bahamian workforce believe in the spirit of solidarity.
• NB: Ian R. Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.
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