The globally known sporting company Nike has closed all offices around the world in order to ‘prioritize their employee’s mental health.’ Employees over at Nike have been non-stop working throughout everything that has been taking place which one can assume will eventually get quite tiring. In hopes to avoid sudden burnout, the corporation is giving all of their workers the option to take a week off from their duties to manage the important things that matter in life such as family and your mental state. The business’s senior manager of global marketing science Matt Marrazzo confirmed all of this on his LinkedIn account this past Wednesday, August 25, 2021.
“Nike HQ will be powering down for a full week off starting next Monday. Our senior leaders are all sending a clear message: Take the time to unwind, distress, and spend time with your loved ones. Do not work,” Marrazzo stated. He added, “It is at times like this that I am so grateful to be a part of this team. In a year (or two) unlike any other, taking time for rest and recovery is key to performing well and staying sane. This past year has been rough – we are all human! And living through a traumatic event! – but I am hopeful that the empathy and grace we continue to show our teammates will have a positive impact on the culture of work moving forward.”
As every good leader does, they look out and do what is best for their team and people. Nike’s senior manager directly stated, “It is not just a ‘week off’ for the team… it is an acknowledgment that we can prioritize mental health and still get work done.” He finally finished off with, “Support your people. It is good business but it is also the right thing to do.” With that being said it is clear that Marrazzo made this surprising move just to look out for his people while only wanting his employees to be at their mental best for their upcoming workdays.