I recently joined, I’m in my early 20’s, this is my first job out of college. I am doing something pretty specialized, and I worked incredibly hard through Covid to get here. Not 10 minutes into my first day I am being dumped on by my team, (my manager, even), about how much they hate it here. I get it, it su-ks right now, I’m also a certified hater don’t get me wrong… but I’ve never experienced a more depressing culture. A lot of you came in during the “good years” at Nike. A lot of you were my age once and made friends with other new hires. Most of us starting our careers don’t have that right now, and it’s a very confusing and incredibly isolating thing. I don’t like feeling that the only way I can make a friend is by complaining, when I’m so fresh I don’t even know wtf I’m talking about. All I’m saying is try to reach out to your newer teammates, make sure they’re good, talk to them about their lives outside of work and their aspirations. It would make a big difference
18 replies (most recent on top)
Just do your job and stop looking for safe spaces, or just go cry in the "mothers room" You are an adult...and your parents are not here to protect your precious feelings. Do what you are paid to do and stop crying in your Cherios. Your generation is the reason we now have tamp-ns in the damn men's room....
There should be enough empathy to go around. Oldies be empathetic about your new colleagues joining a dumpster fire. Newbies, be empathetic about your vintage Nike colleagues that are stuck in the past. This isn't rocket science, we're all humans.
You joined a company that’s going through its biggest layoff to date, what did you expect? Should we all conform to how you want us to feel so you feel better? This is the real world and the reality we’re in as a company. If I reached out to every new co-worker in my 13 years to check on them I’d be drained. Learn to take care of yourself and be less whiny. They’re complaining in real life, you’re complaining about them on here. Circle of life.
@1eqj+1rCjgAMU Yes! This! Thank you for saying this
Or maybe put your bug by pants on, shut up, and do your fu--ing job...
In the early 2000s Nike was a great place to work…..leaders led, there was people trying to empire build but not near the extent today, we had great team building and spend on employees (lunches, dinners, thirst Thursdays, events, travel). In 1998 they took the entire soccer team to France for the World Cup. The ENTIRE team. But I am also a long term employee and like another spoke…..our retirement accounts are crushed right about time we need them….i also feel daily I have to take some course on how horrible I am as a person and need to be re-programmed. Covid and forced decisions. It just adds up honestly. I go to work….i still work hard as I enjoy my job that allows me to help others. I also believe the company pays me and deserves my best….but I am honestly tired.
I see you, and have been you. Hang in there, and maybe with the re-org you will wind up with some new team mates.
Not everyone is extremely depressed on campus. There's some of us keeping our head down, trying to avoid the toxicity and maybe be around to help lead a comeback. So before some of you downvote this, just know that through a long career in tech (ups and lots of downs) the one thing that hasn't been beat out of me is optimism.
A note to younger generations at Nike... Perhaps do not over correct us for pronunciation specially when we have no idea what is your preferred pronunciation and you have never communicated it! Quite annoying for a 60 years old gut like me...
Make friends with ETW’s. There’s often enough distance from the toxicity that they’re not all jaded and still enjoy working on campus. I’ve been on campus quite awhile and have seen many ups and downs, “new flying formations” or whatever catchy term they use for lays offs and restaffing.
Take a big whiff of corporate reality young man, as many other posters have stated this is the reality pf Nike right now. You cannot control it and you cannot change it, what you can control is how you deal with it. Recognize and understand that it's just a job, a way for you to pay your bills and live your life and learn something along the way. Try to not engage in the negative chatter that will only make you feel worse. There are plenty of folks at Nike that understand this and outwardly portray a positive vide you just have to find them.
Thoughtful post. Try to find external peace.
This unfortunately is the new normal as many have said. Your bucket won’t fill with contentment stemming from work.
Balance the work disharmony with close relationships, those you love and activities that stimulate your soul!
Many Corporate employees are exhausted. Being in the workforce for 10, 20, 30, or even 40 yrs takes a toll and it's always been one move from breaking. It's true that Nike was one of the better ones but many have come to realize, maybe it wasn't so different after all. You just get used to it! With RTO, layoffs, and falling stock affecting retirements, we're angry. I would imagine that many Corporations are going through similar issues. You add in the Pandemic on a personal level, and you have a storm.
None of us liked the external negativity and why WFH was such a great shield. It created harmony in a chaotic system.
I'm older and have never been so depressed, unmotivated, and exhausted and returning to the office was the cherry on the cake. I feel like my home life is now back to chaos so now work and home is in chaos. I guess my rambling point is that most people in the Corporate world are depressed now. The only ones I know that seem unfazed still are WFH. I have several friends and family that have decided to retire early and make do with what they had in retirement, even paying the early withdrawal fees. It's not just Nike.
I'm sorry your life has just started and has been through so much negative light the past few years as you're just starting out. That would stink. Try to shield yourself as much as possible until the storms blow over. Someday, this will all be a bad memory. I hope.
It could always be worse. At least we don’t work for Boeing. Nike will only ruin your life with layoffs instead of hit men.
yea I can relate to some of this- although I am not super recent- you’ll slowly feel like you’ve earned the right to complain, don’t worry about that!! lol. & I agree with below, don’t feel you need to be loyal and don’t take anything personally. It’s a struggle for everyone right now, try to keep a positive mindset and find things outside of work to improve your mental well being & to make some friends
Early career folks, you gotta ride waves up AND down, learn from both. Even tenured vets of Nike have gone through a lot, at Nike or other companies .. it’s business, it happens… let’s all keep going!
I also joined Nike not long ago. I've heard statements about how Nike used to be a great place to work and is now running downhill in the recent years, which I was easily convinced. It didn't take me long to recognize and hear enough stories of corruptions and politics within and between teams. It's good to think as it as just another corporate and not think you have to be loyal to it by any means
Well, you arrived after Nike peaked and working at a company that’s on the downslide actually is depressing. Especially if you were around and witnessed pre-2016ish Nike. It used to be a cool place to work. You’d tell people you worked at Nike and they were intrigued. Now you tell people you work at Nike and they wince just a little. I had a friend just last week who is generally clueless and even she asked “How are you doing? I heard it’s rough there these days.”
You’re right about looking after newbies. But cut your colleagues some slack. They’ve been through the ringer and it ain’t over.