Earlier this year, female Nike runners denounced Nike’s discriminatory practices against pregnant athletes. After Olympic runners Alysia Montaño and Allyson Felix spoke out about being “penalised for having a child,” an internal e-mail earlier this week reveals the brand has changed its contracts for pregnant athletes and is waiving pay reductions.
Last May, Montaño penned a whistleblowing op-ed, revealing that Nike had cut her pay when she got pregnant. The same month Felix shared a similar experience, claiming she was offered 70% less after she became a mother. In the wake of these damning exposés and heavy backlash, Nike announced plans to alter its practices. Now it has finally adequately revised its guidelines.
On Friday, Felix posted a picture of an email from Nike executive vice president of global sports marketing John Slusher. The memo outlines Nike’s updated policy, wherein it says it will “not apply any performance-related reduction” for 18 months if an athlete becomes pregnant. In the caption, Felix wrote “Our voices have power.”
