Thread regarding Nike Inc. layoffs

4 months of being off the Nike machine and I can agree- I sleep. I’m so valued. My opinion matters. I have great ideas, who knew?? I have incredible balance in my life. I don’t fear speaking up or being pulled into an unplanned meeting. I’m not getting feedback constantly of what I could do better or on my personality. Life is better after Nike.

A few months after the purge of over 50-year old, mostly female employees in 2017, and only after their executives were caught s-xually harassing women, NIKE fired a couple upper-tier executives but for the most part, kept their boys club fraternity intact. They promoted a few women and minorities for window dressing and right back to the same toxic culture that flourished under ex-CEO and Nike Board Member, Mark Parker. Parker was a shoe nerd who did NOTHING to improve the culture at NIKE except promote and pander to the liars, cheaters and racist "leaders." He was shamed into stepping down and pulling is 50-million dollar parachute. Poor guy. I hope he is okay.

To many of my friends that were laid off this week, I will give you the words I got from a friend when I was laid off in ‘17 even after being told I had a job and I was “safe....” My friend said, “They did you a favor.”

Three years later, I sleep, my relationships with my family and friends are better,
I have balance and perspective ... and I am in a job where my opinions are valued. I work with people who want to empower and not belittle. Every idea doesn’t need to go through the spanking machine... your ideas are valuable and your experience will serve you.

Congratulations on your next chapter.

My world was turned upside down in August 2017 when I was let go. I never had one bad CFE or even a negative CFE comment and just like that I was out. It took a bit of time to get my head back together because it does shake you to the core, but trust me, it does get better and there are great opportunities out there. No company is perfect and not every company offers Nike-level benefits, but what I'm most happy about is that my post-Nike employer is run like a real company with metrics and HR policies and not like some U of O fraternity.

To all of the V, A, L, U, and E banders out there that may be affected, I walked in your shoes and you have my sympathy. Be willing to work hard and good things will happen, even in this economy. But there is a life outside of the berm and it's just fine.

I was on sabbatical and at PDX the morning of August 29th, 2017 getting ready to travel. It was about 6:30AM and I happened to check my e-mail on my phone. There was a meeting invite with a VP (whom I had never met before) saying that the meeting was about the "restructuring of our organization". I, of course, declined the meeting saying I was on sabbatical and traveling.....this, did NOT deter them and said "we really need to talk to you". I said, fine, set me up for 2-hours from now and I'll chat once I get to my next airport stop. The call was cold and calculated. I laughed because HR said I could keep my phone and IPAD (I didn't have an IPAD through work). This is how I knew they were reading from a script. The VP had the balls to ask me how I was feeling since he couldn't see my expression as this was a phone call and not in person meeting! That VP is still there and probably laying off more people as I write this.....BUY other brands and don't look back!

to everyone who reacted with (-) to what @iez had to say: why? what was said that offended you so much? People like this person are simply sharing how this makes them feel. Nothing was said about specific person. Show some respect and get off your high horse because you may soon be thrown off of it. Sad how people lost their humanity to the dollar!

Totally cold and sterile. You will receive a meeting invite with a vague title less than 60 mins before the meeting time. The participants will be you and your manager. When you log on there will be a third party.

Has your manager been avoiding you? Do you feel isolated? Key insight you might be next.

This isn't insight. This is a copy and paste message from an earlier thread below. The person that this was copied from was just guessing what the process might look like, so take it with a grain of salt.

“LOL...."appreciate the insights!" WTF!”

WTF? There’s a thousand or two more people that will be getting this call and I would agree, insight into how it’s coming is appreciated, d!¢&.

Dude, we market shoes and athleticwear pimped by million dollar athletes made by kids who make $0.20 an hour. We've got no moral high ground here.

Personally, I am tired of Nike’s inhumanity, discrimination, and its general toxic culture. I want to be employed, feed my family, keep a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs, and pay the bills especially at this time when millions of Americans are unemployed (breaks my heart, by the way). With that said, I have done all I can do to prepare for what may come – getting laid off. One thing I can tell you though, I have already started the search for a new job and the moment I land one be it next week, next month or six months from now, I am leaving Nike behind. Nothing, I believe, is worth the sh– we deal with on a daily basis at Nike mostly stemming from people who, literally, do nothing of value.

LOL...."appreciate the insights!" WTF!

Was Zoom call initiated by your manager, and were you the only other participant? Or was the HR rep on the invite also?

What was the subject of the meeting?

Appreciate the insights!!

@kea, I am so terribly sorry to hear that. Hopefully better things are awaiting you. Was his today? Recently?

Mine was void of all emotions, so yes, it was sterile.