What does "picking up the slack" mean here?

[NewHopeR]

Context:

To Peter Vegso at Health Communications, Inc., as well as
Christine Belleris, Matthew Diener, Kim Weiss and the entire
friendly staff at HCI for their honesty, professionalism and
everyday courtesy that make publishing a pleasure. Kudos
galore to Irene Xanthos and Lori Golden for their tenacious
drive and for picking up the slack. And a gargantuan thank you
to the Art Department for all your hard work and dedication.

 

[Rover_KE]

From the Free Dictionary:

pick/take up the slack​

American & Australian informal)to do the work which someone else has stopped doing, but which still needs to be done When Sue starts going out to work each day, Bob and the kids will have to take up the slack and help more at home.


Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.

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pick up the slack also take up the slack
to do something when someone else cannot or will not do itWith our best player injured, other players picked up the slack. Who will take up the slack when our grant money runs out?


Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003. Reproduced with permission.

Rover