Thread regarding Nike Inc. layoffs

True Teammates Matter

When I was impacted by the 2020 CDA layoffs, I often spoke to others who were affected. Commiserating with them was therapeutic in some regards. But my former unscathed teammates rarely if ever proactively reached out. I get it. To some degree, it's like asking Mrs. Lincoln 'how was the play otherwise.' Plus, there is probably some survivors guilt' at play as well.

But ge-z, give your laid offed teammates a call. If that's truly awkward for you, at least text or email them letting them know you care and are there to help if needed. Kind & emphatic words can go a long way in tough times. Be a true teammate.

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| 2091 views | | 6 replies (last February 29, 2024) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1rh4LYrP

6 replies (most recent on top)

Not sure why anyone is surprised by this.

How many friends do you still meet with regularly from highschool? How many people were you friendly with back then?

How many from elementary?

People are generally good, generally kind, generally friendly. But connections are built around shared experiences. Once one of you leaves there’s typically no foundation there to hold up the status quo.

I work with at least twenty new people every year (in a not very social role), and I’ve worked for Nike a looong time. I’ve also watched hundreds of colleagues get laid off over the years.

My baseline is friendly and helpful. I’ll help out however I can if reached out to. But I simply don’t have the time to proactively maintain hundreds of connections when we never really had that much in common.

You are the main character of your story but to everyone else you’re just a ship passing by.

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Post ID: @2vag+1rh4LYrP
  1. 9% of the people you work with aren't your friends. You may have a friendly relationship, but when some leaves friendly relationships will fade. That said, if you are the one leaving you may get an initial check in from a few people, but that phase will be short. Then later once you've made it through your transition to a new company you will eventually hear from your old "friends" that are looking for a new job. Not being a cynic, just telling you how it will go down with your "work friends". They aren't your friends.
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Post ID: @1bno+1rh4LYrP

One colleague I had, who was let go in CDA, was absolutely rude and awful to anyone that reached out, or checked in on them.

Not surprisingly, they have struggled with roles at next places. Which is a bummer, since so many roles are connections through your next work of colleagues.

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Post ID: @1mqw+1rh4LYrP

OP, well said. I have personally experienced the same treatment.

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Post ID: @1reo+1rh4LYrP

I quit Nike in 2022. You really find out who your friends are once you leave. I would have lunch and hang out with all sorts of coworkers and as soon as I left it was as if I didn’t exist. I have a couple close Nike friends thankfully but most just disappeared. Once you leave the cult they forget about you

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Post ID: @1ssv+1rh4LYrP

I do. It’s when you call or text and they respond “I’ve been thinking about you”, and then ghost you that’s the painful part.

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Post ID: @lcf+1rh4LYrP

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