Applying an Intersectional Understanding of Extra Work Behavior and Emotional Exhaustion in Local Public Service

Most studies in diversity management analyze race, gender, and age in the workforce as separate categories with less attention paid to intersectionality. This study looks at which groups engage in uncompensated extra-role behaviors and experience emotional exhaustion. We find that the intersection of multiple identities increases the transaction costs inherent to underrepresentation through these mechanisms. Using a structural equation model to analyze survey data across several Los Angeles city government organizations, we find that the extra work experiences of minority employees are not homogenous within racial, gender, or generational groups. Among Black employees, it is women who bear the brunt of extra work burden. Further, among Black women, it is older generations who disproportionately engage in extra work and suffer from emotional exhaustion. We argue that though such results may be contingent upon local political and cultural history, an intersectional approach is critical to identifying the personnel most vulnerable to disproportionate job burdens and the human resource management practices that better support a diverse workforce