Following ongoing criticism, Nike has revised its maternity policy for pregnant athletes - ensuring that women will not suffer financial loss during or after their pregnancies.
In an op-ed for the New York Times earlier this year, track and field sprinter Allyson Felix wrote that Nike had offered to pay only 70 per cent of her previous salary during her pregnancy, refusing to guarantee that she wouldn’t face further financial loss if she under-performed during the months before and after her childbirth. Another US athlete, Alysia Montano also spoke to the New York Times about her former sponsor's failure to offer financial security when she fell pregnant.
“I can’t tell you the number of women who have reached out, who have encouraged me, who have been through a similar experience, who have been scared to let their employer know that they started a family,” six-time Olympic gold medallist Felix said of the response to her piece.
“I was just blown away with those different stories, the different people coming to me. I think there’s definitely a shared experience there, and I think there’s power in coming together, power of the collective. I think the more voices that come out, you know, change is happening.”
Now, Nike is doing something about it. In a letter posted by Felix to social media, Nike says it will "not apply any performance-related reduction" for an 18 month period if an athlete becomes pregnant.
“Female athletes and their representatives will begin receiving written confirmation reaffirming Nike’s official pregnancy policy for elite athletes,” a Nike spokesperson wrote.
“In addition to our 2018 policy standardising our approach across all sports to ensure no female athlete is adversely impacted financially for pregnancy, the policy has now been expanded to cover 18 months.”
She continued: "NIKE has joined in officially and contractually providing maternal protection to the female athletes they sponsor. This means that female athletes will no longer be financially penalised for having a child.
"I’m grateful to John Slusher and Mark Parker for their leadership and their desire to guide NIKE as a company who believes that we are all more than athletes. And THANK YOU to the brands who have already made this commitment. Who is next?"
