As of writing, 13 of 13 top female athletes sponsored by Nike were pregnant. This is despite their new policy which protects them against any reductions in pay for the 18-months preceding and subsequent to their pregnancy. The Nike Collective was started to ensure that female athletes could be involved in company decision making. Moreover, having female athletes in the company's discussions is crucial for the growth of Nike as a brand and sport as a whole.
13 of Nike's most prominent sponsored athletes are now pregnant
Thirteen of Nike's top female sponsored athletes are either pregnant or have already given birth. This trend of athletes becoming pregnant is especially troubling for women who have devoted their lives to their sport. Nike's policy concerning maternity leaves athletes feeling unprotected. Many of them have voiced concern and requested protection from punishment following childbirth.
Nike's new policy regarding pregnancy protects them against pay cuts for 18 months.
It is often said that women in sports including the Olympic teams are subject to pay cuts. Nike has taken steps to protect female athletes from these cuts. Nike executives addressed female athletes and stated that they had not properly accounted for the possibility of pregnancy in their sponsorship agreements. They also indicated that they have added pregnancy protection language into their contracts. Felix explains why Nike has made a change to its policy.
Allyson Felix
Allyson Felix was involved a dispute with Nike about maternity rights a few decades ago. She claimed Nike's attitude was rude and tone deaf. Nike ultimately agreed to make changes. They also promised not to penalize Felix for poor performance postpartum. The situation is not ideal for everyone. Felix has signed an agreement with Athleta to address the new situation.
Alyssia Montano's pregnancy
Alyssia Montano has made headlines as a pregnant Olympic athlete. Mexican-born Montano, who was pregnant with her first child, competed at the women's race in 2014. Her pregnancy was an important event and the company cut her wages retroactively. According to her, she was under intense pressure from Nike as well as the U.S. Olympic Committee to get back to her best athletic form. After her first child, she left Nike and signed with Asics. She was able compete and compete again without having to take pay cuts. The company was concerned that her future sponsorships could be at risk if she didn't return to her old level.
Allyson Felix reacts to the nike ad
Allyson Felix is currently in negotiations with Nike regarding her maternity protections. She said that she was unaware she was pregnant when Nike asked to feature her in an ad about female empowerment. Her contract with the company expired in December, so she was asked to take a 70% pay cut to stay with the company. In addition, she requested certain maternity protections, such as the right to choose a doctor, which Nike denied. The ad has caused a larger debate on the rights of female athletes.