Head of Global Marketing Science for Nike offers staff at headquarters essential time off.
Following in the footsteps of social media giant Bumble, staff at Nike headquarters will be taking time off from work for one week.
During a time of uncertainty and as we begin to emerge from a global pandemic, working from home has become the norm. This has enriched a culture of out of office working, where many employees have complained of being asked to work on tasks beyond their contracted hours.
It was inspired by Global Marketing Science chief Matt Marrazzo, who released a statement via LinkedIn explaining the move.
“In just about an hour, teams at Nike will start closing their laptops for our regular Summer Friday hours. But today is extra special…” He said.
“Nike HQ is also powering down for a full week off starting next Monday. Our senior leaders are all sending a clear message: Take the time to unwind, destress and spend time with your loved ones. Do not work.”
This is a fantastic opportunity to combat a culture of work hard, play little. Marrazzo goes on to say: “…I’m hopeful that the empathy and grace we continue to show our teammates will have a positive impact on the culture of work moving forward.”
But the question remains, where does this leave retail staff, who are constantly battling rowdy customers, clustered environments and are at the frontlines of the pandemic, essentially risking their lives.
No doubt more can be done, and although not all retail staff are able take time off simultaneously, there is no reason why they cannot individually take a scheduled week off.
Marrazzo finishes by saying:
“It’s not just a “week off” for the team… it’s an acknowledgment that we can prioritize mental health and still get work done.”
“Support your people. It’s good business but it’s also the right thing to do.”
Let’s wait-and-see.
Stanisland Magazine 