I'm starting to think that's just a myth the old-timers keep repeating. You couldn't convince me people ever enjoyed working here.
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I agree with what you said in terms of GT hiring too many "leaders" from the outside and then completely devaluing the rank and file that were there before them. I'm not at Nike anymore (part of the cuts last year), but the last Nike paid training I had was probably in 2018. They just stopped investing in employees after that. And hiring from within was a rarity after that time also.
But the big thing I wanted to add was that I was in a position where I was able to see the raw data from the employee survey back in 2013, and I was shocked to see that more than 70% of respondents had said they would NOT recommend a friend to work in Nike Tech back then. To me, that just shows how far back things started tilting bad for GT employees. It's been rotting for a long time, but is unbelievably worse than ever now!
It was pretty great from when I started in 2003 until about 2012
@fz+1krrr2evr
I started around then as well. I agree that was the tail end of the good times. I'm just happy I got to experience the generosity that was ingrained in the company culture, like a big FU to companies who started cost cutting long before then. But, when it got bad, it got really bad.
I was part of Global Tech "back in the day". Nike has changed dramatically since then. They stopped training and promoting from within, and that started when they hired CIOs from outside the company. Those outside executives brought their cronies with them, and then stayed 3 or so years until something better came along. But what they created was a culture where experience and institutional knowledge were viewed as impediments instead of assets (i.e. he/she won't change fast enough to keep up). "We have to get rid of the staff we have so that we can hire people who know AWS." ... or AI ... or whatever.
It's not going to get better until you value the people you have more than a particular skillset that you want.
@c6 GT was not ok before layoffs. overall bad behavior was in place prior to layoffs.
@gk I did.
@b3 It was so terrible that you stayed for 33 year. GTF out of here,
I started in early 2016, and the work environment back then was night and day compared to what it is now. I truly feel like I caught the tail end of Nike's good era.
Will never be good again without accountability. Create cost = pay for it. Over budget = taken out of next year’s budget. ROI on a project doesn’t come to fruition? Miss a go live date? Go home before fixing something costing the company money? Warning, Pay Docked, then Fired. May be harsh but priorities will ‘magically’ align, work estimates will improve dramatically, and those teams downstream from the waves of sh-t data and bad process might regain their sanity —- ‘cause nobody is listening to the complaints, the costs, nor our Customers constantly complaining … “Why is Nike the worst at ___?” … over & over & over again. Is not hard to be operationally competent. We’re not putting people on the moon, we sell footwear & apparel —- maybe just listen to our Customers? I know - novel concept here
@OP I worked in Sales for long time. And long time ago when most of the Nike dealers were brick and mortar and big national chains, Nike was great place to work because anyone will return your call asap or have door open for me.
If you were ambitious and want to make big money, Nike was great place to start.
Most buyers for big chains and dept store will not give you access if you were not in established brands. But once you build your relationship with buyer and came through for them they will give you a least one chance.
Pay in Nike was ok because around 1986, PK made all their salesmen pay in salary.
With bump that Nike had during late 1980s with AJ 3 & 4, Air Force Barkley, Air revolution, Bo Jackson I would have a lot of money if I was paid in commission.
PK was weird & enigmatic but not stupid. LOL
Yes, there were all timer salesman who quit and went somewhere else because they can get a lot more money on commission because of their track record. Also I don't think they would have like the way Nike was turning into institutionalized corporation.
I was able to adopt the change since I was relatively young man those days LOL.
I had great relationship with my dealer as I said earlier. And when FUBU was starting, they sought after me since I had relationship with big accounts. They offered me 10% commission on order written and first 18 months I wrote 25 millions. When they went on salary, I quit. And I got same deal with Sean John and wrote 50 million on first year.
And they went salary again. I quit.
I made a lot of money in those days because of my relationship that I built during Nike days.
I advised all the young people that came after me to create relationship with customers but most of them behaved like ja----s.
As for my money, after income tax and divorce, I am doing ok and happy with what I have.
@bj the daily attacks, disrespect from everyone, daily insults, condescending behavior, people in bad moods, barely come to work….its never been worse!!!
I can only speak for Nike GT. It was okay earlier and it's gotten worse now. Laying off so many folks and calling it "win now" strategy is the d-mbest thing Nike has done. It has lost it's brand magic and now leaders are running around as headless chickens.
The culture is an absolute nightmare. I’m constantly dealing with harass..ment and disrespect from everyone, from upper management down to lower-level colleagues. It’s not just the overwhelming workload, it’s also the daily attacks, insults, and condescending behavior from insecure people who constantly need to prove they’re the smartest in the room by putting others down in the most disgusting way possible. The environment is beyond disgustingly toxic.
@OP it is a myth....i worked there for 33 years. Worked my whole career in the DC 's. They would work us like dogs. If course they would pay overtime. But what is money when the shoes cost $12 to make and sell for $150. Nothing but a cult...like most big companies.
Peaked for me around 2012-2015. Dude, it used to be the best place to work.
I had 20 years working there that I wouldn’t have traded for anything. Then woke happened.
@OP @OP that was in early 80s when there were still a lot of 1st generations were still there.
And it got progressively worse just like any corporation that is growing.
And late 2000s and 2010s things got illegally bad when women and minorities were discriminated in many ways and harassed under MP's regime.
Then came JD and everyone became nothing to him and the bottom fell off and he was let go.
Under EH, everyone has been in limbo not knowing when they will have last pay check.
I would not call Nike as good as some corporations but there ok until it was and last few years has been pure he-l to people there.
I was there from 2018-2022 and voluntarily left because it was sh-t. I came in with high expectations, only to see the joke that place really is. I used to hear the same thing when I was there- “back in the day…”