Thread regarding Nike Inc. layoffs

Gotta love HR’s technicalities.

“You’re not really an employee, so the term “layoff” can’t apply to you. Ergo no ETWs will be affected by these layoffs, though 50% of you will have your contract cut.”

What people (FTEs) seem to love to harp on is the “temporary” in ETW and not the fact that it’s a CONTRACT employment. A contract is a legally binding agreement willing entered into by TWO parties with SPECIFIC, DETAILED terms. It’s ridiculous to say “have a back up plan” when you’re signing and agreeing to a specific employment duration. No sh*t you’d have a plan as that agreement nears the end, but 6-8 months prior to the mutually agreed on contract end? BFFR. Before you come for me and say “aCTuaLLy!! ThEreS cLausEs ThAt SaY tHey CaN TeRmInaTe aT AnY TiMe”, I’d like to remind you of the company wide FAQ that went out saying ETW’s wouldn’t be impacted by these layoffs. Layoffs su-k for EVERYONE!! ETWs grind just as hard as FTEs (there’s bad apples of both in every bunch, it’s called statistics) and everyone deserves a shoulder to cry on / helping hand. Sorry, OP that people are taking their insecurities out on you. I’m with ya!

I feel for you, and Nike in part put this on you by treating you like a full-time employee.
But you do know what the "T" in ETW stands for, don't you?

Have a backup plan and kiss any chance of conversion goodbye. Work your a-s off and constantly position yourself the best you can and get terminated when NIKE decides ETWs are the problem, regardless of the work you contribute or your team wanting to keep you. Being an ETW is a lose-lose, but some FTEs would rather tell them they should have known better rather than do anything to try and improve things.

Multiple people suggested to always have a backup option if you’re an ETW. What does that look like in practice? Be specific?

As someone who's been through 4 big restructuring reorgs and countless smaller once over more than a decade, my advice is don't fret. What I've seen over and over again is laying people (both FTEs and ETWs) off for 6-9 months, and then hiring a number of them back. If your contract ends, leave gracefully and stay in touch with the people you've worked with. Chances are roles will become available again in 6 months.
What I currently see are decision being made to downsize teams without a good understanding of the amount of work they need to support. When work starts being dropped left and right, deadlines blown, orders delayed, roles will start coming back. Seen it happen again and again.

When are budgets and headcount going to be finalized?

They will cut, reassess and then re-hire both FTE AND ETW at some point. Maybe within 6 months or more?

People will also hate the environment or their new roles or teams and leave Nike entirely.

Amazon laid off a bunch of people and is opening more roles and hiring them back.

@jwd that person’s reply might have been harsh but it wasn’t false.

The state of ETW’s is literally found in the name. “External TEMPORARY Worker”. The word temporary meaning “this arrangement isn’t going to go on forever”.

Yes we can and should be sympathetic to anyone who loses their employment. At the same time ETW’s always need to assume that their work at Nike WILL end and they should always have a backup plan for when it does. It sounds like the OP is genuinely upset that his/her temporary employment at Nike was…temporary. While some ETW’s land full time roles, most don’t. Is that right? Is it fair? Is it just? In many cases, no. But it’s what you sign up for when accepting temporary employment.

Nike is flaming dumpster fire right now & there is no plan to put it out. The firings have only begun, the D-bag at the helm promised his bosses $2 billion in cost reductions. Since we continue pis*ing away $$$ where are those savings going to come from? Chopping people is all that clown JD knows. RIP Nike

I hate this. This will impact a lot of good people.

“OP - you were a contract worker” reply is sh&*y. Some people really want to work for Nike and whether you hold a black or white id, so please don’t demean someone who had the opportunity to work there.

Putting this advice out there as someone who's spent about equal time ETW (in multiple contract formats) and FTE, also who's been around Nike a really, really long time and done as lot of climbing: there is equally little stability on either side of the fence. Hundreds to now thousands of FTEs have gotten cut over the past year too, don't forget.

Its really important to continuously assess your particular situation in this company and proactively make moves as it dictates. I exercised (PROACTIVELY) far more latitude to influence updating my assignment as an ETW than is possible as an FTE, where now the options are waiting for reorg, the axe, or finding a new job. Always gotta watch out for #1, don't ever get lazy at Nike.

FTE here…. Genuinely sorry you’re going through this. Hope you land in your feet.

OP - you were a contract worker. What were you thinking?

You’re. Interact workers… there was no stability to begin with. Coming from someone that did freelance for over 4 years. My suggestion is to always have a back up option.