You’ll never know why most people are laid off. It can be any of a number of reasons. I’d say 99% are let go for one of the following reasons:
- poor performance
- excessive absenteeism
- a role is eliminated or your role is duplicative
- age
- a particular team needs to reduce headcount strictly for budget reasons and some unlucky person needs to be the chosen one
- you rightly or wrongly made someone angry
- retaliation
- someone decides you’ve just been around too long or in the same role too long
- they want to promote someone else and you’re in the way
- you make too much money or someone otherwise decides you don’t add enough value
That pretty much covers it. Of course some of those are valid reasons and some aren’t. Problem is when you’re let go for reasons that are either illegal or unethical it is usually very hard or even impossible to prove. You might have your suspicions but proving it is a different matter. And besides most states are at will employment states. In that case Nike doesn’t need any official reason to let you go.
In most lay-off situations the worst thing a person can do is sit around wondering “Why me?” Because in truth most layoffs aren’t personal. They’re strictly business decisions and you are in the wrong role at the wrong time. Sure, some people are let go because they somehow messed-up. But if you know you didn’t mess-up you were probably just unlucky.
Here’s the most important thing to know and take away: Nike is a very transactional place. And you are always a transaction. I don’t say that with any anger or negativity either. It just is what it is.
Nike is not a family. It’s more like a pro sports team. While your previous successful history is usually appreciated and may help it never guarantees you a spot on the team tomorrow. Too many people forget that. They mistakenly think loyalty somehow fits into the picture. But if you want loyalty, go adopt a dog. A dog will give you loyalty. Most large companies won’t. That isn’t why they exist.
I’ve been at Nike more than 20 years. While I’m an above average performer and hope to retire from Nike I also fully understand that one day I may be told “Thanks for everything. You’ve been great. Now get lost and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Will I be upset if that happens? Yeah, probably a little bit. I’m still human after all. I don’t know anyone who likes to be told “You’re no longer needed.” At the same time I understand Nike is my team and not my family. I’ll stew for a day or two, be grateful for the memories and then promptly do something else.
Once you make peace with all of this Nike becomes a much easier place to work at. It took me more than a decade to figure all this out. Once I did I sort of stopped caring whether or not I get laid off. Having that peace of mind is huge so I’d encourage others to take all of this into consideration. Or don’t. Whatever works for you.
This post is too good to be buried among replies. It was originally posted by @1vcd+18SpNwmz.