Nike gives head office employees a week off in a mental health break | nike

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Nike has given its US head office employees a week off to “de-stress” and recover from the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sportswear and coaches brand said workers at its Oregon headquarters will be “down” through Friday, with senior leaders encouraging employees to ignore all work responsibilities to help their mental health.

“Take the time to relax, and spend time with your loved ones. Matt Marazzo, Senior Director of Global Marketing Science at Nike, said in an open letter to employees posted on LinkedIn.

“In a year (or two) unlike any other, taking time to rest and recover is the key to performing well and staying sane.”

He acknowledged that “the past year has been tough,” adding that employees should realize that “we are all human” and live through a traumatic event.

It places Nike among a growing number of companies offering additional leave, or concessions around work responsibilities, to combat work-at-home burnout and the constant video calls that have blurred the line between personal and professional life.

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And Whitney Wolf Heard, founder of dating app Bumble, gave 700 employees a week of paid leave to de-stress and shutdown in June. It came shortly after global investment bank Citigroup banned work video calls on Fridays to help employees break free from the “roughness of a pandemic workday” in March. The bank also designated May 28 as a company-wide holiday, which it called “Citi Reset Day,” and encouraged employees to book more vacations.

Marrazzo said the perks and support provided to employees at Nike is “a good job but it’s also the right thing to do.”

“It’s not just a ‘week off’ for the team… it’s a recognition that we can prioritize mental health and still get the work done,” he added.

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