I’m sharing this letter to put a human face on the criminal response to the coronavirus pandemic. I first spoke with Doug Kerkering after we were both given an ultimatum by our respective employers to submit to an injection or lose our jobs. I complied to the extent that I was granted an exemption. Doug chose to stand his ground. He refused to provide his vaccination status and he refused to seek an exemption. February 1, 2022 was his last day at Nike.
Doug shared these thoughts on LinkedIn, and I’m grateful to him for giving me permission to reprint them here. Thank you, Doug.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I’m writing this email with a very heavy heart as my time at Nike has come to an end. As you all know, Nike is mandating as a condition of employment that only a subset of employees get vaccinated and upload their private medical information to an unknown 3rd party provider to retain employment at Nike. A request that has never been asked before in my 31+ years of employment with the company. This policy is being held despite the latest ruling by the SOTUS declaring the mandate unconstitutional and despite the most current science which negates any reason or logic to impose such a mandate. I have been quite open and vocal about my opinion and stance but for those of you who don’t know, here is what I fundamentally believe.
First and foremost, I believe in bodily autonomy. I want everyone safe, healthy, and productive at work, but this one-size fits all approach will simply not work as currently evident by the science and latest data. Mandating people to go against their personal beliefs, values and principles is not an inclusive solution and goes against everything we as a company have previously stood for. We believe “If you have a body, you are an athlete”. Why then is Nike choosing not to respect my body and my valid concerns of what I put into it? Many employees are not comfortable giving up their bodily autonomy and medical freedom and this needs to be respected. Mandating a vaccine as a criterion of employment is not only wrong but is also an egregious overreach by corporations and our government and frankly should have all of us greatly concerned regardless which side of the issue one may fall. I respect everyone’s personal choice to get or not get the vaccine. The fact though that the vaccine does not stop one from getting Covid nor stop one from spreading it, is a concern. The fact that we have zero long term safety data, is a concern. That fact that we must wait 75+ years till we receive the proper information and intel from FDA on what Pfizer used as data to allow them to approve the shot, is a concern. The fact that Nike is mandating this and yet will take zero liability should I have an adverse reaction, is also a concern.
Unfortunately, I’ve never witnessed so much hatred from Nike colleagues and genuine disregard for others and their individual fundamental human rights and beliefs. Hundreds of Nike employees are terrified about Nike retaliating against them for merely speaking out their concerns regarding this mandate. Nike is a company that prides itself on equality and declares that every employee has the right to be their authentic self without fear of discrimination, harassment, retribution, or retaliation, I’m concerned with how their actions don’t meet their words? We have campaigned around “Equality and Be True”, and we have shouted about diversity and inclusivity. Yet, Nike is not being inclusive and is in fact discriminating against many people’s faith and beliefs, and that’s not only wrong but also hypocritical. I am here speaking on behalf of all those employees who are simply too scared to voice their opinion and I do so freely, with good conscience and without regret. I ask that you respect and at the very least empathize with the decisions of hundreds of your other Nike family members who have suffered greatly throughout this time of uncertainty and blatant segregation.
With that said, I did not upload my vaccination status. As a result, Nike has fired me and hundreds of your fellow colleagues demonstrating the hypocrisy that every employee matters, even despite three decades of loyalty to the company. I received my termination notice effective today – February 1, 2022. For those of you who still think Nike is not firing your co-workers or unaware of the ramifications, I’m living proof that they have! I never expected to leave Nike under such conditions and personally I’m devastated, heartbroken but mostly disappointed how Nike has treated so many of their loyal and faithful employees. There is no severance, no empathy, just kicked to the curb! The stance I’m taking is so much bigger than myself, money, social acceptance, safety, or security. It’s about personal medical freedom and liberty for ALL of us. The Nike I joined 31 years ago and the organization I know and love, would have never treated its family members like this and would have respected my body and my choice.
Lastly, I want to personally thank every one of you for your friendship and love over my incredible career at Nike, it was an amazing ride and I wish you all much success. Regardless of your own personal choices, I continue to respect your wishes and the due diligence and prudence you have all taken to make your own individual risk/reward decisions. No matter our difference of opinions, I will always count you all as friends and I will be here for you should you ever wish to reach out. I will miss all of you very much! I pray God’s many blessings and safety for you and your families in the coming months and years ahead and I hope we will stay connected as much as possible.
As one of Nike’s recent campaigns declared, “Believe In Something, Even If It Means Sacrificing Everything.” Sadly, for me and many of my fellow colleagues that means sacrificing our careers here at Nike!
May God Bless You ALL and please forward to anyone you feel may need to hear this message.
Doug