Every so often, you hear a business leader praise their international team with words like “hardworking” and “eager”. On the surface, it sounds like a compliment - an endorsement of grit and resilience. But sometimes, these words mask a deeper, more troubling reality.
The Real Reason Behind the Praise
A founder once told me, “We hire Nigerians because they’re hardworking and eager.” He said it with pride, as if he was offering a lifeline - a chance at opportunity. But behind the compliment was a different truth: “They’re cheap, and they’ll take whatever we give them.” The praise wasn’t about respect. It was about cost and compliance.
He spoke as if he was saving people, doing them a favor by offering them a job. But the real test of respect came not in words, but in actions.
When Praise Turns to Prejudice
The illusion shattered the day a Nigerian colleague asked for a sick day. Suddenly, the “hardworking” employee became “lazy,” “making excuses,” and “trying to cheat the system.” The same founder who celebrated “grit” turned on a dime the moment a human being needed rest.
This is the hypocrisy at the heart of some business practices. It’s easy to praise people for their work ethic - until they assert their basic rights. Then, the mask slips, revealing prejudice, control, and a lack of empathy.
The Mask of Opportunity
Hypocrisy in business often wears the mask of opportunity and empathy. It speaks in buzzwords like “diversity” and “impact.” But when those values are tested - when an employee needs support or understanding - the truth comes out.
Hiring from underrepresented regions isn’t charity. It’s not a favor. Real respect doesn’t evaporate the moment someone stops grinding. If your appreciation for an employee disappears the second they need rest, it was never genuine in the first place.
A Call for Real Change
We can do better. Businesses must move beyond empty buzzwords and performative diversity. True inclusion means respecting employees as people, not just as resources. It means supporting them when they need help, not just when they’re producing at full speed.
Let’s build workplaces where opportunity is real, respect is constant, and empathy isn’t conditional. We owe it to our colleagues - and to ourselves - to do better. And we should.