Nike has made the decision to add Juneteenth on their paid holiday roster as announced by CEO John Donahoe on Thursday.
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According to CNN, Nike CEO John Donahoe issued a letter to the athleisure company’s employees declaring they will be paid on Juneteeth or June 19. Juneteenth is the day when in 1865 where Union soldiers announced the emancipation of slaves Galveston, Texas two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by then-President Abraham Lincoln.
“At Nike, Inc., we aspire to be a leader in building a diverse, inclusive team and culture. We want to be better than society as a whole. As I have listened deeply during my first six months and over the past few weeks, what I have learned is that many have felt a disconnect between our external brand and your internal experience. You have told me that we have not consistently supported, recognized, and celebrated our own Black teammates in a manner they deserve. This needs to change.”
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Other companies such as Vox Media, Twitter, and Square have followed suit by listing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for employees. Nike is also planning to set initiatives to diversify its workforce and increasing its number of Black, Hispanic, and women employees.