Do not work, Do not work. With these words, the marketing manager of Nike’s Oregon headquarters, Matt Marrazzo, has offered his employees an extra week at home to relax, take care of themselves before returning to the office and overcome the stress associated with the Covid-19 emergency. In short, a time to disconnect and reflect on your mental health before resuming activities in September.
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the message
Take the time to distract yourself and spend time with your loved ones, wrote Marrazzo in the message to the staff adding that it is not just a week of rest but of a way to prioritize the issue of mental health. Even more at risk given the difficulties linked to the pandemic and working from home, which is not always experienced in a positive way by employees. Marrazzo writes: This last year has been tough – we are all human and we are experiencing a traumatic event – but I hope that the empathy and kindness we continue to show our colleagues will have a positive impact on the culture of work.
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The strategies of the giants
Nike’s decision follows that of Bumble, the women’s dating app, which gave workers more free time in June, and Linkedin, which had done the same in April, and highlights how the issue of worker well-being is becoming central to the most innovative companies. The choice to give employees more time for themselves then rekindles the debate on the risk of burnout, exhaustion from work stress. It is no coincidence that a growing number of workers in 2020 reported suffering from the protracted pandemic and the sense of isolation linked to smart working. A situation towards which companies are, willy-nilly, developing a renewed sensitivity. Also in the awareness that people are the engine of the company.
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