Nike has given its employees in their corporate offices a week off this month. The company offers employees free week to “de-stress,” following a trend set by others this year.
The announcement was made on LinkedIn by Nike’s senior global marketing director Matt Marrazzo. “All of our senior leaders send a clear message: Take the time to disconnect, shatter, and spend time with your loved ones. Don’t work,” Marrazzo wrote. “These are times like this that I’m so grateful to be part of this team. In a year (or two) unlike any other, taking time to rest and recover is critical to having a good performance and staying healthy. “.
Marrazzo said this past year has been tough as we are experiencing a traumatic event. He said he “expects the empathy and grace we continue to show our teammates to have a positive impact on the work culture to move forward.”
It’s not just a “free week,” Marrazzo said, “it’s a recognition that we can prioritize mental health and keep working.”
Nike is not the first company to do this give employees a week off in order to prioritize mental health. In June, the Bumble dating app offered more than 700 people a free week of rest in an effort to curb exhaustion.
Hootsuite, a social media management platform, left its employees July 5-12. In a blog post, the company said the pandemic “reminded us of the importance of mental health,” so it supports employees with its inaugural “Wellness Week.” ”
LinkedIn also gave its employees a week off in April and Citi Group announced in March that it would have “Zoom Free Friday,” according to the New York Times.