The sportswear giant is investing in management training and recruiting programs to place more women and minorities in leadership positions, the company said in its latest sustainability report, which also detailed its progress toward environmental targets.
Nike is introducing new measures to improve workplace diversity as the company grapples with allegations of gender discrimination and inappropriate behaviour that led to the departure of nearly a dozen senior executives.
The American sportswear giant will funnel additional resources into programs designed to ensure leadership accountability and create hiring opportunities for women and minorities, Nike said in a draft of its latest sustainability report, which is due out Monday. The report outlines the Beaverton, Oregon-based company’s progress on environmental and cultural issues, including headway in reducing its carbon footprint. Monday’s report also offers new details about how Nike plans to address a workplace culture some employees have described as toxic in media reports.
“In early 2018, we became aware of reports of behaviour within our organisation that did not reflect our core values of inclusivity, respect, and empowerment,” Nike said. “We now recognise this is not only about culture and leadership, but also about institutional bias and practices that haven’t kept pace.”
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Nike is requiring 10,000 managers worldwide to undergo mandatory diversity training and unconscious bias awareness training for all employees. A new diversity talent acquisition team will ensure there are diverse candidates for open positions. The company is creating a leadership training program to help employees enroll in business school and providing mentorship programs for women and minorities.