Preventative action for workplace burn-out

Reports out of America say global apparel and shoe company, Nike is putting some of its employees’ mental health ahead of productivity.

To this extent, the company has closed its corporate offices for the week so employees can “enjoy additional time off to rest and recover,” according to a statement from Nike. The move is celebrated by those who work at the company, which has its headquarters near Beaverton in Oregon.

It is being seen as a preventative measure for workplace burn-out. In an email to Oregon based media outlet, KGW, a Nike company official wrote that the extra time off is “intended for employees to refresh and recharge during the ongoing pandemic”.

Comments about Nike’s move

KGW reports Matt Marrazzo, a senior manager at Nike, as posting on his LinkedIn page, “It’s not just a ‘week off’ for the team… . It’s an acknowledgment that we can prioritise mental health and still get work done.”

Another employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, told KGW, “It’s not only a chance to recharge and keep us together, but also a thank you for an impressive year.”

Already Nike is receiving praises for the move.

Liz Tippett, an associate professor at the University of Oregon School of Law, whose work emphasises employment law and practices, described the initiative as a good move by company.

According to Tippett, “I like raising the focus of mental health as a basis for people to take their time off, not just when they’re physically ill… . I think it’s important to recognise the role mental health plays for workers and worker well-being.”

While those in the corporate offices are getting the paid week off, others aren’t getting it at all, as Nike’s retail stores are still open. KGW reported that when it called a Nike retail store, the person who answered the phone said this was the first they were hearing about the paid time off for corporate employees.

Recognising workplace burn out

In 2019, the World Health Organization recognised workplace burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. It was the first time the global health agency directly linked burnout in its classifications of diseases as a work hazard.

It also meant workers could seek medical help for something other than an illness or health condition. In 2020 and 2021, companies began placing more of an emphasis on an employee’s mental health by giving them more time off.