I know as per last communication, it is slated to re-open in July. I am wondering if anyone has heard if that will is still on track or will it be extended?
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Nope! No way that I am ever going back to campus; that is my personal choice and thus has nothing to do with anyone else of Nike's decision to bring people back - whenever that is. Of course making the decision means that I have made another - leave Nike for another company that allows me to be 100% remote and not just during the pandemic. It took nearly 3 months for me to find this opportunity but I found it. I am now at the middle stage of interviews and things are looking great. Cannot recall being this excited for a long time. This company is great with fantastic benefits, better 401k than Nike, similar to better profit sharing, better bonus than Nike, same salary, no stupid politics, and no NW passive-aggressive nonsense. I will get the change to do what I love, from the place I love, surrounded by the people and animals I love. So long, Nike!
@4ox - I agree. Nike used to care about families and day care. They did away with that a few years ago. That was one of the perks. Gone!
The last company on earth to give a rats a$$ about working parents is indeed Nike. That’s cute that you think it will play a role in the decision.
The prison just expanded by how many buildings? Those cells need to be filled.
I agree, I see 1-2 folks from team try to spend couple days on campus by choice. Good for them. Can’t peer pressure. Not worried. Also I agree with cases going up and JD comm 2 weeks back in all hands, at latest we looking at fall, which may or may not change when we get there. Say it’s oct or nov, it would overlap when people will need 3rd/booster shot, overlaps flu season(possible spike) and holiday (thanksgiving, Xmas, new year) season. Wonder if that will be the right call. I think, personal bias, setting a date in Jan 2022 makes more sense for now and then assess as we go through holiday season. So far they have been extending by 6 months, if they do the same this time, it takes us to Jan ((6mo from July). Couple companies on west coast have set Jan as a tentative month as well. I prefer WFH. I think policy will be similar to other companies are doing on west coast for various reason people already know about.
The situation in Oregon is worsening with rise of COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. In fact, we are in worse conditions that we ever were. Why would anyone in the right mind even think about returning to the office in 2021? You cannot drag me to the office if you try; my a-s is staying home.
I don't want to go back. Meanwhile, one of my co-workers has been working from campus for months, by choice. And now my boss is going to start doing the same. Worried about pressure to join them.
I think many people didn't understand that mid summer was when communications for the timeline of campus re-opening might occur ...not an actual date of campus reopening.
There are many factors that Nike leadership does not control (as prior commenters have mentioned...e.g. schools re-opening, workers getting vaccinated etc.).
If you look at the facts...
Oregon is currently doing far worse than many other states with covid infections and hospitalizations (as a percentage of increase over prior weeks). Note that many counties are actually going back into lockdowns/increased restrictions.
The data nationally and in Oregon specifically, shows the rate of vaccinations is falling because the first wave of "the willing" has pretty much been satisfied and now we are looking at a large number of people who are unwilling to get a vaccination.
Oregon has a higher percentage of population that will refuse to ever get a vaccine than some other states e.g. socio-economic factors, independent counter-culture, alt-beliefs etc. (not judging anyone for refusing to get a vaccine...I understand that people should have some choices). Nike is not going to force workers to get a vaccine (even though legally they could)...it's just not in line with the current ethos of messaging from leadership to mandate it.
Herd immunity -which is a significant factor to offices being able to open normally- may not actually happen if more than 20-30% of the population never gets a vaccine.
Nike has a very large ETW workforce that gets furloughed in the fall and winter months around Thanksgiving and Christmas...plus overall worker productivity decreases with additional PTO and overall Holiday distractions. The ROI of spending all the money and effort to get campus re-opened during the months when it's less utilized may not pencil out.
Almost every government leader, business exec, science advisor etc. has underestimated covid and the challenges resistant-to-change US culture brings to actually eliminating the disease. Every month predictions about opening up have had to move out further and further for a year now.
This all points to a greater likelihood that next year is more likely for a broader campus re-opening.
To those who are excited about campus work...keep in mind it won't be like before with everything back to "normal". Because of all the above factors, the US will likely be living with active but low-level covid infection outbreaks permanently...and thus many things in the office will be altered permanently. Masks could be mandatory at all times. Food services will either be nonexistent or only grab-and-go boxed. Gyms may not be open or have very limited capacity. Meetings may be limited to small groups with social distancing. People will be assigned rotations for being on campus certain days of the week and working remotely others.
In summary...it may not be what you think it will be. At least for another year
- if ever.
There is a solid amount of scientific opinion that says covid may be a permanent fixture of life with new strains and variants constantly being introduced either within the US or from other countries which will require everyone to get annual booster shot vaccines. This is in part due to the uneven distribution and health support in other countries e.g. India is sadly getting hit incredibly hard right now which increases the risk of new variants being generated that cause more intense and rapid infections. India is just the current hot spot so I'm not trying to single that country as a scapegoat.
Best advice is to think about permanently adopting a lot of the best practices around zoom meetings, remote work, distance collaboration etc. as long-term skills that will be necessary in the workplace of the future and we'll all have to let go of many past expectations we were used to before covid.
@rxc Same here, totally fine with that too.
It will have a LOT to do with the schools reopening full time. I don’t know of any school district that has committed so far... Lots of aspirational messaging but they also don’t know what will happen with the ‘governor’.
My guess is the end of the calendar year.
Thanks
It’s going to be what he “governor” and I use that term loosely decides for each county. Ultimately it will be September/October from the intel I have received.
In last week’s all employee meeting JD said that “it is unlikely we will be together in person before Fall.”
Fine by me!