Nike announces end to pregnancy reduction in contracts
Nike announced it is ending its policy of reducing pay and benefits if an athlete gets pregnant.
Nike has been under fire for months after Alysia Montaño went public in an opinion piece for the New York Times, detailing how the apparel giant cut her paycheck and health insurance while she was pregnant.
In July, Allyson Felix, one of Nike's highest profile athletes, left the brand and signed with Athleta. Felix had said Nike did not do enough to support pregnant athletes.
“As women and athletes, we experience the joys and challenges that come with being both,” Athleta wrote in a letter to Felix when the contract was announced. “It’s why we promise to support you—as an athlete, a mother, an activist—as you continue to break records, break barriers, and break the silence.”
Felix tweeted on Friday "Our voices have power. NIKE has contractually provided maternal protection to the female athletes they sponsor. I’m grateful to NIKE leadership for believing that we are all more than athletes. THANK YOU to the brands who have already made this commitment. Who is next?"
Our voices have power. NIKE has contractually provided maternal protection to the female athletes they sponsor. I’m grateful to NIKE leadership for believing that we are all more than athletes. THANK YOU to the brands who have already made this commitment. Who is next? pic.twitter.com/fF9ZV0DkCJ
— Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) August 16, 2019
As Victoria Jackson, a former Nike athlete wrote for GlobalSport Matters in May:
"Montaño has channeled her anger into positive change, making the elite sports landscape better for women. Before taking on Nike’s #DreamCrazy, she pushed for maternity leave legislation so the United States Olympic Committee couldn’t revoke a pregnant or postpartum athlete’s health insurance through the Elite Athlete Health Insurance program.
All athletes — but especially women athletes and athletes of color — are supposed to be grateful for the contract, the privilege of getting paid to do what they love. If they ask or suggest or push or request, they’re being difficult and no longer part of the team. Unsurprisingly, Montaño has taken heat for trying to improve the landscape for pro women athlete moms. In sport, too often, critical thinking is interpreted as negative. We have to buy in 100 percent, “believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” be a team player,#TrustTheProcess."
According to the letter to its athletes and tweeted by ESPN's Emmanuel Acho, the new addendum to the Nike contract states: “If ATHLETE becomes pregnant, NIKE may not apply any performance-related reductions (if any) for a consecutive period of 18 months, beginning eight months prior to ATHLETE’s due date. During such period NIKE may not apply any right of termination (if any) as a result of ATHLETE not competing due to pregnancy.”
Wow. HUGE progress for female athletes, and equality in general! @Nike, officially eliminating wage reductions due to pregnancy (for track & field athletes). Effective immediately! pic.twitter.com/3jDgYoUpxW
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) August 16, 2019
The new policy is effective immediately and will protect athletes for an additional six months, allowing more time for the new mom and baby to bond and not forcing the women to begin training immediately.
In a statement to Sports Illustrated, Nike said: "Female athletes and their representatives will begin receiving written confirmation reaffirming Nike's official pregnancy policy for elite athletes.
"In addition to our 2018 policy standardizing 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."
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