Thread regarding Nike Inc. layoffs

Where is this latest round of cuts happening?

I am so sorry to hear this - I hope this is not happening any more

Well, here is the outcome in Europe. Most if not all people were above 50 and working at nike for 20 years. E bands were also impacted. What is crazy I did not cost very much at all! My manager also did not know what I did, just was glad it was done. She had NO clue and sincerely was shocked when I told her. Lesson: go to bat for your employees.

It is a boy's club in the US as well. Can't wait for those men to get axed in the next round. Sorry for sounding bitter but I treated that job as my own business and at the same time playing in the team... but never kissing a-- and that was my mistake.

30 years - man, you'd think they'd have some respect. I do not understand people.

I was one of the 10+. Had a good run. I also hear if a you go against your severance with any form of legal action you will not get your package.

Not the company I grew up with.

I wish the best for all of you that are being laid off from Nike. I don't know and hopefully won't have to endure this with my company. I have been here for 35 years, and am actively pulling all stops to find a new job. Tenure and experience have been thrown out the window, and I am afraid if I don't make a move soon, that they will. I have already been demoted due to new wacky management, after a 12 year gig as a supervisor. Best of fortunes for all of you.

Hey folks...former Nike Marketig employee here...sorry to hear about the latest round of misery. Here's something to chew on....About 15 years ago I did an analysis of healthcare spending costs at a variety of companies....when employees hit 45 years old, the cost curve looks like a hockey stick. Companies shed older workers to save on insurance costs as well as salary.

It's the last bastion of acceptable discrimination left in this country.

Good luck to you all.

They are targeting long term people. Then hiring contractors.

That way they do not have the expense of FTEs.

We were in the process of a reorg that has been going on for over a year. They could have worked with us to find us a spot.

They do not invest in there employees.

All the SR leaders is all about travel and who can out drink the other.

Total waste of air and money.

"Tenure was a flag to be let go". Are you saying that long-timers were targeted? Is that because of higher pay, or too many opinions/concerns?

I was at NIKE for 24 yrs 7 months, and YES David Ayre fixed sabbatical pay out. I hope the top managers choke on all the bucks they got due to massive layoffs. I was proud to work at a company which Phil Knight established because I thought he was happy to employ the people in Oregon. To all the snotty educated management people, you will get your day. When all the people who pull the plows are gone, who is going to work then??????

Does anyone have specifics on what the package was that folks received?

June RIF'er here - when you receive your severance packet (if you are over 40) they will list all the titles and ages of all employees laid off. This is the legal CYA against age discrimination because tenure was a flag to be let go.

Also, sabbatical hours will not be paid out. My 10 year anniversary was two days before I was let go, and I know of another person that had their 15 year the day of being let go and had never taken their 10 year. My director went to bat trying to get sabbatical hours paid however was informed that it was a David Ayre decision to not pay any sabbatical hours. Coincidentally, he's gone now... SMH.

Just my experience - after going through the grief of leaving Nike after giving them ten years - I can't even begin to express how relaxed and happy I am now. Yeah, I have to find a job still, but I will take that stress any day over how icky things had gotten. The stories I hear from my friends still there are so demoralizing. I hope for the best for all of you, no matter if you stay or go.

10 years here and I was let go in the first round! For the record, they are not paying out sabbatical time. No matter how you look at it, it stinks!

"if people only knew how screwed up the warehouses" - nail on the head. Replacing the WMS systems 3 times without addressing most of the functionality issues (leads to being many years behind the industry), the accuracy issues (inaccurate inventory, don't know what was put in cartons, and don't know whether or not a carton was shipped), or the accountability issues (personal responsibility for accuracy). The WMS's should've been replaced before SAP was brought in, company is way to focused on it's internals, and not where it directly touches/interfaces with Customers. The culture is not what it is portrayed to be, the maxims are not just words ... it is a vindictive culture where folks trying to do the right thing and get things done are often penalized for pointing things out that are costing the company money. After many years of that, things just keep getting more & more inefficient and costly ... and those with the knowledge of what is broken/bad stop bringing them up, stop trying to engage with other teams to fix things ... and things keep getting worse. What is missing more than anything else is accountability. If every team and individual is accountable for the costs they create or cause - things would change rapidly.

@1jso pipe dreams. it's hard to win an age discrimination suit nowadays

lol no you won't

@P0AlzQJ-1jso

I've said it before and I believe it to be true: "successful" Nike employee's perform at a level that would be considered "exceptional" at any other company. Never forget that!

I am going to write this one down as listed by @1wqm below:

we all were good enough to get our jobs to begin with. We'll be good enough to get another one

i was let go today too, almost 10 years. the manager that laid me off had some class though - she was frank but firm, it felt like she cared - she insisted on personally providing references if needed - dont know, i just kind of felt it was sincere - maybe i was expecting much worse. i have solid a plan b so that may be playing into all of this as i was relaxed as well. i wish you all the best and i am glad we, the cast away crew, are able to exchange experiences on this blog. for all religious people: godspeed - for the rest of you: i wish you all the best

Same here, alost 30 years, I was laid off today. I have no words right now, I am in shock. Will post later. Good luck to all.

Long timer here too. Today was my last day. Wonder if they will pay me my sabbatical hours that I never got a chance to take. But we all were good enough to get our jobs to begin with. We'll be good enough to get another one

If we join together we might have an ageism class action

Tenure doesnt matter any more. All that matters is how well you prop up your leaders as a yes man/woman. I know people that were barely qualified to be managers that have been promoted to director and even senior director in 2 years. These people are mean spirited, lie about their output, and destruct culture. If Phil knew I am sure he would be saddened. nike continues to get rid of doers in favor of consultant PPT jockeys. Each presentation trying to be more clever than the last, even though no work has been done. nike troubles are related to retail being in a tailspin but it is also because no one works anymore. just public relation campaigns.

And with freestyle and half day fridays, no one really even works anymore. All accountability gone.

Really sorry to hear this. From the days that Nike commanded what people should wear to now when the new gen really doesn't care for overpriced name brands, it's been a real downhill ride. Was the "top management" too comfortably ensconced and fattened to miss this? They were so good at spouting Nike-isms. Worthless now! Maybe it's a good thing to leave now. Don't lose heart. Expand your search areas and you're sure to find something better.

Yep, long timers and especially those that weren't part of the boys club. Seems like they are trying to get rid of all who were there during the most successful years.

9 years here (3 months shy of sabbatical). Bright side is I don't have to work for the new boss, who is absolutely horrible but at least he got debanded.

So sorry! From what I've seen, there appears to be a high percentage of long-timers that have been let go. Is that the same as others have witnessed? Lame.

My heart breaks reading these accounts. I'm so sorry! It's wrong on so many levels.

To be fair, it's "manager."

I feel your anguish- you feel like you are kicked in the stomach after dedicating so much of your life to a company and have them cut you like it's nothing. when they did it to me, I went out the next day and bought a pair of Adidias and it felt great!

Hang in there, sometimes better things really are out there.

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through! I hope you get good severance. hang in there! there is better world outside the berm