Yahoo Finance Nike gives staff a week off to support their mental health
Nike has given staff at its Oregon headquarters a week off to help support their mental health following what it described as a "traumatic" time.
The sportswear giant said that it would "power down" until Friday in a move aimed at improving mental wellbeing ahead of a return to the office next month.
In a message to all employees, Nike's Matt Marrazzo said: "Take the time to unwind, de-stress and spend time with your loved ones. Do not work."
He urged staff to switch off, adding they were "living through a traumatic life event".
"In a year (or two) unlike any other, taking time for rest and recovery is key to performing well and staying sane.
"It's not just a 'week off' for the team ... it's an acknowledgement that we can prioritise mental health and still get work done."
Ben Willmott, head of public policy at CIPD, the body for HR and people development, said: "This will certainly be welcomed by employees and signals clearly that their employer recognises that their wellbeing is important and is prepared to invest in this."
However, he added: "If underlying causes of poor employee wellbeing such as excessive workloads or poor people management are not being addressed at the same time, then there is a risk that this type of initiative is more of a band aid than a longer term solution.
"Organisations that choose leaders who live up to organisational values, and invest in training managers on how to manage and support people properly, will create the foundations for healthier workplaces over the long-term."
Liz Tippett of the University of Oregon's law school welcomed Nike's move. "I think it's important to recognise the role mental health plays for workers and worker well-being," she told the Oregonian.
It echoes similar decisions by dating app Bumble, which told its 700 staff to take time off in June, and LinkedIn. The professional networking site gave its workers a week off in April.
Meanwhile, companies such as Citigroup have told staff not to hold Zoom meetings on Fridays.
An increasing number of staff have said they were feeling burnt out as many continue to work from home.
US companies including Apple, Uber and Wells Fargo have pushed back plans for stuff to return to the office as Covid cases spiked up and down the country.
