Post by account_disabled on Mar 10, 2024 3:42:19 GMT
The sports brand Nike considers itself socially responsible, it has focused on creating a culture of inclusion and empowerment through its campaigns, however, it seems that to date, it has not achieved this in practice.
In previous months, Nike was recognized for Chile Mobile Number List having the anti-racism icon Colin Kaepernick as its brand image, and for its campaign in favor of gender equality, inclusion and diversity.
In 2014, one of the great stars of American athletics, Allyson Felix, announced that she wanted to start a family and become a mother. This fact was not to Nike's liking, it even conditioned the athlete to reduce her salary by 70%, after negotiating the renewal of her contract effective in December 2017.
Felix joined a wave of discrimination complaints from other colleagues, and requested a guarantee that she would not be penalized if she performed below her level in the months before and after giving birth. The brand's response was a resounding no.
Upon returning to competition 13 months later, Felix signed a new contract with Athleta, a sportswear brand that had never sponsored athletes.
It was not the only case
Allyson Felix said in a statement: "If we have children, we risk income cuts from sponsors, during and after pregnancy. This is an example of a sports industry where the rules—for the most part—are made by and for men.
She has not been the only athlete who has gone through this case.
Alysia Montaño, an athlete representing the United States, in 2014 decided to run eight months pregnant in her country's Championships. While she did so, she fought with ASICS to maintain her income. Her desire to be a mother left her with a considerable pay cut and no maternity leave.
“If we want to be athletes and mothers, then it's crazy,” Montaño later said, referring to the Nike commercial “Dream Crazier,” which emphasizes female empowerment and uses a narration by the famous tennis player Serena Williams. who had her first daughter in September 2017.
However, despite Nike's current promises, Blanca Manchón, an Olympian qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games, reported that her sponsors disappeared just when she informed them of her pregnancy.
She had to ask her parents for money to compete and qualify for the Games after having a child.
«Nike and Emasesa, with whom I had been linked for years, congratulated me when I told them that I was pregnant. “Supermom, they told me!” But when the contract had to be renewed, they didn't pick up the phone or they looked for excuses.”
Nike will no longer penalize pregnant athletes
A few days ago, Felix posted on Instagram a letter sent to him by the brand's vice president of global marketing to announce Nike's new non-discriminatory contractual policy.
“Our voices are powerful,” is how Allyson Felix begins her post.
Nike committed, according to the email that arrived on August 12, 2019, to protect and not discriminate against athletes who decide to become mothers.
“ If the athlete becomes pregnant, Nike cannot apply any performance-related reductions (if applicable) for a consecutive period of one and a half years, beginning eight months before the due date. During this period, Nike cannot terminate any contract if the athlete does not compete due to pregnancy,” reads the email signed by John Slusher.
“Nike has officially and contractually signed on to provide protection to the female athletes they sponsor, and they will no longer be financially penalized for having a child. I am grateful to John Slusher and Mark Parker for their leadership and desire to guide Nike as a company that believes we are more than athletes. Thanks to the brands that have already committed. Who's next? ”Felix wrote.
But this promise is not new, in 2018 Nike assured that it had already changed the policy, and in that year there are contracts that include payment reductions if certain requirements are not met for which there are no exceptions due to pregnancy or maternity.
But "now" the company has committed to "not apply any reduction" in sponsorship related to pregnancy.
Although Nike has made multiple efforts to ensure that these cases of discrimination do not happen, they seem not to be enough and only promises that are not fulfilled. Is it possible that from now on things will change.
In previous months, Nike was recognized for Chile Mobile Number List having the anti-racism icon Colin Kaepernick as its brand image, and for its campaign in favor of gender equality, inclusion and diversity.
In 2014, one of the great stars of American athletics, Allyson Felix, announced that she wanted to start a family and become a mother. This fact was not to Nike's liking, it even conditioned the athlete to reduce her salary by 70%, after negotiating the renewal of her contract effective in December 2017.
Felix joined a wave of discrimination complaints from other colleagues, and requested a guarantee that she would not be penalized if she performed below her level in the months before and after giving birth. The brand's response was a resounding no.
Upon returning to competition 13 months later, Felix signed a new contract with Athleta, a sportswear brand that had never sponsored athletes.
It was not the only case
Allyson Felix said in a statement: "If we have children, we risk income cuts from sponsors, during and after pregnancy. This is an example of a sports industry where the rules—for the most part—are made by and for men.
She has not been the only athlete who has gone through this case.
Alysia Montaño, an athlete representing the United States, in 2014 decided to run eight months pregnant in her country's Championships. While she did so, she fought with ASICS to maintain her income. Her desire to be a mother left her with a considerable pay cut and no maternity leave.
“If we want to be athletes and mothers, then it's crazy,” Montaño later said, referring to the Nike commercial “Dream Crazier,” which emphasizes female empowerment and uses a narration by the famous tennis player Serena Williams. who had her first daughter in September 2017.
However, despite Nike's current promises, Blanca Manchón, an Olympian qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games, reported that her sponsors disappeared just when she informed them of her pregnancy.
She had to ask her parents for money to compete and qualify for the Games after having a child.
«Nike and Emasesa, with whom I had been linked for years, congratulated me when I told them that I was pregnant. “Supermom, they told me!” But when the contract had to be renewed, they didn't pick up the phone or they looked for excuses.”
Nike will no longer penalize pregnant athletes
A few days ago, Felix posted on Instagram a letter sent to him by the brand's vice president of global marketing to announce Nike's new non-discriminatory contractual policy.
“Our voices are powerful,” is how Allyson Felix begins her post.
Nike committed, according to the email that arrived on August 12, 2019, to protect and not discriminate against athletes who decide to become mothers.
“ If the athlete becomes pregnant, Nike cannot apply any performance-related reductions (if applicable) for a consecutive period of one and a half years, beginning eight months before the due date. During this period, Nike cannot terminate any contract if the athlete does not compete due to pregnancy,” reads the email signed by John Slusher.
“Nike has officially and contractually signed on to provide protection to the female athletes they sponsor, and they will no longer be financially penalized for having a child. I am grateful to John Slusher and Mark Parker for their leadership and desire to guide Nike as a company that believes we are more than athletes. Thanks to the brands that have already committed. Who's next? ”Felix wrote.
But this promise is not new, in 2018 Nike assured that it had already changed the policy, and in that year there are contracts that include payment reductions if certain requirements are not met for which there are no exceptions due to pregnancy or maternity.
But "now" the company has committed to "not apply any reduction" in sponsorship related to pregnancy.
Although Nike has made multiple efforts to ensure that these cases of discrimination do not happen, they seem not to be enough and only promises that are not fulfilled. Is it possible that from now on things will change.