Like others I know I’m currently pursuing 100% remote work opportunities at other companies. I figure if I have to work 40 hours per week I’m going to do that where I’m most comfortable working (in my own home) and in a manner that best works for my life.
I’ve been thinking more about Nike’s stated reasons for returning to the office and the more I think about it the more I realize those reasons are complete BS. Utter, total nonsense.
It’s worth remembering that Nike just had THE BEST QUARTER IN COMPANY HISTORY while…wait for it…almost all corporate employees were working remotely! But Nike wants us to believe we HAVE to be in close physical proximity to do our best work?? Sorry but the last quarter just put the lie to that thought.
I couldn’t stand working in the telemarketing like work space even before Covid. It was literally like trying to get work done while watching a circus. So when we were sent home in 2020 I quickly discovered something amazing…I can actually get my work done at home! No chatty Cathys interrupting me every 15 minutes. No loud laughter interrupting me every 10 minutes. No people throwing a ball just 15 feet away from me. Yes that happened in the office. Often. At home I can have phone calls with people and hear what they’re saying! Along with a little privacy when needed. Yes at home I can actually do the work Nike is paying me to do. Neat concept isn’t it??
In addition at home I can take a lunchtime walk with my dog. I can be there when my daughter gets home from school at 3:30. I can take a 30 minute nap early in the afternoon. I can do all those things, and more, and STILL be far more productive than I ever was in the office.
Oh but I forgot…I need to physically be in the office to “collaborate”, right? Please Nike, stop saying those things like you believe I’m some kind of imbecile who lacks any capacity for critical thinking. Working remotely actually forced me to be more thoughtful and efficient with all of my communications. As a result of working remote I collaborated more often and far more strategically than I ever did sitting in that disaster of an open office. Between email, Slack, Zoom, my phone, Sharepoint, and the million other communication tools we have “collaborating” remotely was never a problem. On the contrary it was easier to successfully “collaborate” WITHOUT the numerous limitations and distractions (and increased carbon footprint) of a physical presence.
“But what about the culture!” Well, what about it?? I’m sure Facebook, Ford and Microsoft have a “unique culture” too. But you don’t see those companies - among several others - using that as a tired excuse to get bodies back in seats. Why is that Nike? And again if Nike’s culture was going to take some kind of imaginary hit due to lack of a physical presence then why did we just have the best quarter ever a full YEAR after everyone ditched a physical presence in the office? In addition to that for years I have successfully worked closely with the China team even though I’ve never met any of them in-person. How can that be without the ever-important physical presence?
Nike always talks about how it’s committed to improving quality of life for employees. But when employees like me say “The quality of my life changed dramatically for the better by working 100% remote” Nike suddenly doesn’t seem too interested about that commitment. Here we are TELLING YOU the single most profound change you can make to improve many employees’ quality of life but you don’t seem to want to hear it.
Every year during the engagement survey the lowest scoring question is “Senior leadership clearly communicates the reasons for business decisions.” This situation is a great example of why that question always scores low. As employees many of us get the sense that you have not clearly or transparently communicated why it’s so important to you that we be back in the office 3 days per week. The “collaboration” spiel rings hollow. So does the culture excuse. I don’t buy either one and neither does anyone else I know.
I don’t want to leave Nike. I really don’t. But I am a better and happier employee and my life overall is dramatically better when I have the flexibility afforded from working 100% remote. For this reason I owe it to myself and my family to seek out work at a company that wants me at my best. I wish that company was Nike but it doesn’t appear that will be the case.
One of many unforced errors in the last few years.