Typically “picking up the slack” results in an overall decrease in the quality of work, those that are “picking up the slack” are now doing the bare minimum to keep the team functional and probably working extra hours for the same pay. Most likely overall output decreases as well.
To your point: those two people are possibly doing 10-12 hour days and 6-day weeks now, just to get it done (and keep their jobs). There was no “slack” to begin with. “Slack” may be a misnomer here.
That’s my point. The company was poorly run if they hired 4 people each with enough “slack” that 2 could leave and the job still gets done.
Typically “picking up the slack” results in an overall decrease in the quality of work, those that are “picking up the slack” are now doing the bare minimum to keep the team functional and probably working extra hours for the same pay. Most likely overall output decreases as well.
To your point: those two people are possibly doing 10-12 hour days and 6-day weeks now, just to get it done (and keep their jobs). There was no “slack” to begin with. “Slack” may be a misnomer here.