Involved parties : myself- Cameron Holmes, independent contractor of Optimist and brand ambassador to Nike Get out Here production; production Manager unnamed female); Garrett Bagwell – Optimist, Inc. ; Talia – Optimist, Inc.
I am creating this report to document the poor treatment I experienced onsite at the Get of Here Nike event located in Chicago, IL Riverwalk December 8, 2015 as well as the unfair dismissal that transpired between myself, Nike and Optimist, Inc. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 with Optimist, Inc. Chicago office. I was hired as a contract worker, brand ambassador under the Nike – Get Out Here brand campaign.
After signing into my shift, I was greeted by Optimist, Inc. onsite staffing coordinator, Talia to head over to the indoor “Get Out Here” event space around 5:00 am at the Chicago Riverwalk entrance where the production team would be conducting another walkthrough of the space. As I entered the space, I enthusiastically greeted Suzi, who had been my onsite manager on 12/4, 12/6 and 12/7. As she quickly left the main floor to complete a task in the back, I stood on the floor awaiting for her to come back to assign any duties she needed me to work on. After about a few minutes of not seeing her, I began to look for her to see what I can start on.
After a few more minutes lapsed, the Nike production manager approached one of the male staffers to request that he retrieve some merchandise from the production office and about a few minutes later, the production manager asked me if I belonged in the station. I told her yes as Talia sent me over to this location so that I can join the group. She then asked me if I knew about Nike’s sorting process and if this was my first time (apparently doing this type of task). I responded that I never worked this type of task and that it was my first time working a station like this. She then took me over to the cubby table and begin to give me a brief sketch of how the shoes were to be assorted. Without any explanation, she then began to take over the process of sorting the shoes, even though she just instructed me to handle the task. So, I began to follow her lead and assist with her helping to sort the shoes by sizing. When I took out a size 11 shoe and looked for the correct cubby to place it in, she abrasively told me to place that shoe back in the bin because we were only working with size smalls. Diligently, I followed her order and just began to hand her the shoes according to the sizing she called out. When we got down to the final pair, she remarked to me in a short tone, that shoe laces must be tied to its paired shoe - a rule that she left out when initially covering the shoe sorting process (and a rule that I wasn’t aware because some shoe pairs that she did place in the cubbie, were not tied to each other).
When we wrapped the shoe sorting task, she requested that I assist one of the Nike staffers with grouping and racking clothing merchandise in the back storage room. I politely told her okay as she pointed where I would follow the young lady to the storage room. On my way back, I stopped to ask security which way the bathroom’s were located, because I had a runny nose that I needed to clear up. Taking me less than one minute to blow my nose, I headed back to the storage room in the direction of where the production manager initially directed me.
The production manager then came from no where and decided to escort me to the storage room. She referred to me under an incorrect name, and I politely corrected her – telling her my name was Cameron. I also politely asked her what her name was and indicated that I wanted to know her name in case I needed to find her on the floor in the event that the ress / media needed to be directed to Nike staff (as the Optimist, Inc. training session emphasized that BAs must guide media / press workers to with inquires to all Nike brand staffers). She responded to my question in a harsh and condescending tone with,” what do you think my name is?,” Shocked, and taken aback by her retort, I politely asked her again if she may tell me her name. She abruptly grabbed my hand to shake it to state her name, while emphasizing her position as production manager. She then went to state the same thing she initially told me when she wanted me to assist the staffer with racking merchandise, and then abruptly turning around to leave.
For the next 20 minutes, I assisted the staffer in racking the men / women’s Nike apparel by sizing. After we completed the task, we all went to the front of the room to see what else needed to be done. As most of the staffers were just finishing up their tasks, one of the Nike staffers begin to take roll call to confirm the attendance of all staffers onsite. She began to call BAs and Nike staffers alike, but I did not hear my name get called out. She then instructed the team to head back to the production office to dress in the staffing Nike apparel. As I entered the production space, I begin to look for my uniform and just when I was turning around to head back to ask Talia where I may retrieve my uniform, Garret approached me in front most of the brand ambassador, Nike Staff, and security team to state that he needed to speak with me.
He then led me outside the production office directly in front of the glass-see through entrance doorway to state that I was immediately dismissed. Shocked, I asked him matter-of-factly why I was being dismissed and he stated, “I don’t know” and to “please gather my belongings and leave.”
I expressed my disappointment in being released from the Nike “Get Out Here,” event because I wanted to know the direct reason for my release. I told him that I had to decline several contracted job offers this week for the duration of 12/4 – 12/12 to work the entire Nike, “Get Out Here” event and that my monthly take-home income would be severely impacted by this immediate dismissal with no warning or no explanation for any fault I had given the client or Optimist, Inc.
Garrett responded with a shrug and told me that Optimist, Inc. would be able to negotiate an ending pay and that I would hear from him about the release – but he did not say when I would hear back from him, nor would he discuss the set payment negotiations. He abruptly ended the conversation and walked back into the production office, slamming the door shut behind him and leaving me outside and to have to walk back in to face the stares from the staffers and security team.
As I walked to the back of the office where my belongings had been placed away in storage lockers, the onsite Optimist schedulers / bookers were staring at me and as I passed a group of Nike staffers, they quieted their conversation to gawk at me as I went to retrieve my items.
How Optimist, Inc. handled my dismissal was completely unprofessional, uncomfortable and hurtful to me. I suspect that the production manner abrasive language with me had possibly been the reason for my immediate dismissal even though Garrett told me he did not know why I he was releasing me. To add insult to injury, I feel that Garrett and the Optimist, Inc. management team acted irresponsibly in the way that they showcased my dismissal in front of non Optimist staffers – a violation, I feel in regards to unfairly terminating someone. The embarrassment that it caused me to have to walk back to my locker was humiliating, awkward and hurtful, especially since I was a diligent, trustworthy and professional staffer the duration of my contracted employment and had received personal compliments for my work in heling Suzie manage inventory back at the Nike studio on Michigan Ave.
I have yet to since hear from Garrett or any coordinator at the Chicago office in reagrds to a follow-up about the situation and about my paycheck. I will be filing an official complaint with the EEOC to start an investigartion on the mishandlings on how this company does business and treats its contractors.
Optimist Inc Reviews
Involved parties : myself- Cameron Holmes, independent contractor of Optimist and brand ambassador to Nike Get out Here production; production Manager unnamed female); Garrett Bagwell – Optimist, Inc. ; Talia – Optimist, Inc.
I am creating this report to document the poor treatment I experienced onsite at the Get of Here Nike event located in Chicago, IL Riverwalk December 8, 2015 as well as the unfair dismissal that transpired between myself, Nike and Optimist, Inc. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 with Optimist, Inc. Chicago office. I was hired as a contract worker, brand ambassador under the Nike – Get Out Here brand campaign.
After signing into my shift, I was greeted by Optimist, Inc. onsite staffing coordinator, Talia to head over to the indoor “Get Out Here” event space around 5:00 am at the Chicago Riverwalk entrance where the production team would be conducting another walkthrough of the space. As I entered the space, I enthusiastically greeted Suzi, who had been my onsite manager on 12/4, 12/6 and 12/7. As she quickly left the main floor to complete a task in the back, I stood on the floor awaiting for her to come back to assign any duties she needed me to work on. After about a few minutes of not seeing her, I began to look for her to see what I can start on.
After a few more minutes lapsed, the Nike production manager approached one of the male staffers to request that he retrieve some merchandise from the production office and about a few minutes later, the production manager asked me if I belonged in the station. I told her yes as Talia sent me over to this location so that I can join the group. She then asked me if I knew about Nike’s sorting process and if this was my first time (apparently doing this type of task). I responded that I never worked this type of task and that it was my first time working a station like this. She then took me over to the cubby table and begin to give me a brief sketch of how the shoes were to be assorted. Without any explanation, she then began to take over the process of sorting the shoes, even though she just instructed me to handle the task. So, I began to follow her lead and assist with her helping to sort the shoes by sizing. When I took out a size 11 shoe and looked for the correct cubby to place it in, she abrasively told me to place that shoe back in the bin because we were only working with size smalls. Diligently, I followed her order and just began to hand her the shoes according to the sizing she called out. When we got down to the final pair, she remarked to me in a short tone, that shoe laces must be tied to its paired shoe - a rule that she left out when initially covering the shoe sorting process (and a rule that I wasn’t aware because some shoe pairs that she did place in the cubbie, were not tied to each other).
When we wrapped the shoe sorting task, she requested that I assist one of the Nike staffers with grouping and racking clothing merchandise in the back storage room. I politely told her okay as she pointed where I would follow the young lady to the storage room. On my way back, I stopped to ask security which way the bathroom’s were located, because I had a runny nose that I needed to clear up. Taking me less than one minute to blow my nose, I headed back to the storage room in the direction of where the production manager initially directed me.
The production manager then came from no where and decided to escort me to the storage room. She referred to me under an incorrect name, and I politely corrected her – telling her my name was Cameron. I also politely asked her what her name was and indicated that I wanted to know her name in case I needed to find her on the floor in the event that the ress / media needed to be directed to Nike staff (as the Optimist, Inc. training session emphasized that BAs must guide media / press workers to with inquires to all Nike brand staffers). She responded to my question in a harsh and condescending tone with,” what do you think my name is?,” Shocked, and taken aback by her retort, I politely asked her again if she may tell me her name. She abruptly grabbed my hand to shake it to state her name, while emphasizing her position as production manager. She then went to state the same thing she initially told me when she wanted me to assist the staffer with racking merchandise, and then abruptly turning around to leave.
For the next 20 minutes, I assisted the staffer in racking the men / women’s Nike apparel by sizing. After we completed the task, we all went to the front of the room to see what else needed to be done. As most of the staffers were just finishing up their tasks, one of the Nike staffers begin to take roll call to confirm the attendance of all staffers onsite. She began to call BAs and Nike staffers alike, but I did not hear my name get called out. She then instructed the team to head back to the production office to dress in the staffing Nike apparel. As I entered the production space, I begin to look for my uniform and just when I was turning around to head back to ask Talia where I may retrieve my uniform, Garret approached me in front most of the brand ambassador, Nike Staff, and security team to state that he needed to speak with me.
He then led me outside the production office directly in front of the glass-see through entrance doorway to state that I was immediately dismissed. Shocked, I asked him matter-of-factly why I was being dismissed and he stated, “I don’t know” and to “please gather my belongings and leave.”
I expressed my disappointment in being released from the Nike “Get Out Here,” event because I wanted to know the direct reason for my release. I told him that I had to decline several contracted job offers this week for the duration of 12/4 – 12/12 to work the entire Nike, “Get Out Here” event and that my monthly take-home income would be severely impacted by this immediate dismissal with no warning or no explanation for any fault I had given the client or Optimist, Inc.
Garrett responded with a shrug and told me that Optimist, Inc. would be able to negotiate an ending pay and that I would hear from him about the release – but he did not say when I would hear back from him, nor would he discuss the set payment negotiations. He abruptly ended the conversation and walked back into the production office, slamming the door shut behind him and leaving me outside and to have to walk back in to face the stares from the staffers and security team.
As I walked to the back of the office where my belongings had been placed away in storage lockers, the onsite Optimist schedulers / bookers were staring at me and as I passed a group of Nike staffers, they quieted their conversation to gawk at me as I went to retrieve my items.
How Optimist, Inc. handled my dismissal was completely unprofessional, uncomfortable and hurtful to me. I suspect that the production manner abrasive language with me had possibly been the reason for my immediate dismissal even though Garrett told me he did not know why I he was releasing me. To add insult to injury, I feel that Garrett and the Optimist, Inc. management team acted irresponsibly in the way that they showcased my dismissal in front of non Optimist staffers – a violation, I feel in regards to unfairly terminating someone. The embarrassment that it caused me to have to walk back to my locker was humiliating, awkward and hurtful, especially since I was a diligent, trustworthy and professional staffer the duration of my contracted employment and had received personal compliments for my work in heling Suzie manage inventory back at the Nike studio on Michigan Ave.
I have yet to since hear from Garrett or any coordinator at the Chicago office in reagrds to a follow-up about the situation and about my paycheck. I will be filing an official complaint with the EEOC to start an investigartion on the mishandlings on how this company does business and treats its contractors.