Nike is making a big change to support employees on their journey to parenthood.
The Swoosh late last week announced that as of June 1, it has increased its paid parental leave benefit from eight to 16 weeks for all U.S.-based employees to bond with a child after birth, adoption or foster placement. For the first time, this benefit will extend to part-time retail employees.
Nike announced the news publicly via LinkedIn, where it also touted its new products for new and expecting mothers.
“New parents are some of the hardest working athletes around, and when you’re a new parent on our team, we want to make sure you have the time you need to care for your family,” the company wrote in a post.
FN has reached out to Nike for a comment.
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Nike has been strongly criticized for its lack of support to mothers in the past. Olympian Allyson Felix has openly called out Nike, her former sponsor, since she publicly split from the brand in 2019 over its unfair policies regarding pregnant athletes. And last month, a former Nike retail employee filed a class action lawsuit against the company claiming it does not accommodate postpartum and breastfeeding female employees in California who need to pump breastmilk while at work.
In Nike’s post announcing the new policy, the company highlighted part-time Nike retail associate Kittorra Stokes, who is expecting twin girls later this summer.
“With two babies on the way, knowing that I’ll have 16 weeks of paid time to bond with them is such a blessing,” Stokes said. “I think this benefit shows how much Nike cares about and supports its people — I know, for me, it reaffirmed why I work here and why I want to stay.”
Other Nike employees commented positively on the announcement on. LinkedIn. Global director of consumer experience operations Sami Unrau shared Nike’s post and wrote, “Real proud to work at Nike today.”
“This is how you support families,” she added. “This is how you support women.”
