I really hope people finally start to realize this. With very few exceptions, and I do mean very few, every layoff in recent memory has been driven purely by the numbers. Talented, dedicated, and competent people are treated as entirely replaceable, either by cheaper alternatives or not replaced at all. And yet, some still wonder why Nike has been in a steady decline.
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This isn’t anything new. I’ve seen proverbial rock stars at Nike, who had been with the company for decades and who had been known and liked by hundreds of people, get laid off as if they had just started six months ago. Unfortunately I’ve now seen that several times.
It isn’t a cliche, it’s just a fact: What you did for Nike LAST year (or in the last decade) isn’t necessarily going to keep you employed THIS year. Employees who need to worry most are:
- Those over 40. And especially over 50.
- Those who have been in the same role more than 3 or 4 years.
- Anyone who makes a large salary for their position by virtue of having been around a long enough time.*
- Anyone whose job description sounds oddly vague or is filled with buzzwords. (“I create value by ideating and executing full-funnel, omnichannel brand narratives that leverage agile KPIs and drive scalable, customer-obsessed ROI.” Oh, you mean you create a couple PowerPoint decks and then sit around doing nothing most of the week?)
- I know an admin who’s been with Nike more than 20 years and makes just a little over $100k. She’s awesome. But if I’m being honest, she could be replaced tomorrow by someone half her age who’s willing to do the same job for half the salary.
I’ve encountered a few people who mistakenly think they can’t be let go because “I’m too useful”, “My job is too specialized”, “I’m well-liked by too many people”, etc., etc. Those people haven’t yet figured out that at the end of the day they are a number on a spreadsheet. If they’re ever let go it will most likely be by someone who has no idea who they are or what they do…and doesn’t care anyway. I know that sounds harsh and cold. But it’s also true.
There are very, very, VERY few employees at Nike who are truly irreplaceable. I once fell into the trap myself of thinking “I’ve done so much here and I’m so well-liked, Nike would never even dream of getting rid of ME!” Lucky for me I never found out because I voluntarily quit. I knew if I had stuck around it was just going to be a matter of time. So I left on my own terms. I didn’t want to be one of those people in my late 40’s looking for a job in a job market where age and experience is definitely not an advantage.
People should really take this seriously because there are going to be more layoffs coming.
No one said keep the job forever. But if the company will let go hundreds of people, then performance should matter at this stage. Otherwise happens what we see now
@av Or just replaced by someone cheaper.
Unless you su-k up to the right people. THAT will let you keep your job forever.
Company focused on equality breaking federal law by targeting people over 40. Well done Nike. Show the true sc-m you’ve become.
This isn’t a private mom and pop family owned company where your loyalty and chili cook off skills make you insulated from anything. At no company are you ever not replacement by someone better or emerging technology. That’s the world we live in now.
Your results and dedication mean you do a good job not that you get to forever keep it.
All the people 48 and over in my group were let go. 5 people in their 50s.
Hit a reduction number
Protect incompetent friends and yes men
It’s a culture of a-s kissing and toxic positivity, not talent and accomplishment. They should just stick schmoozing on the Maxims.
Sad but true!