The Group’s economic development is inseparable from its positive social impact. With solid footing in each of its regions, Sodexo simultaneously plays a role in social integration, in particular by hiring individuals who may have experienced difficulties to find employment, in social cohesion, due to the human dimension of its business, and in social mobility and community development.
Since Sodexo’s performance is first and foremost the result of the daily investment of its teams, the Group strives to offer its staff safe, motivating and open work environments, in which differences and team spirit drive innovation and growth. An absolute priority in the context of the pandemic, measures to safeguard employee health, safety and well-being are anchored in their day-to-day experiences and, despite particularly challenging conditions, the frequency of lost time injury declined over the course of the year. In a process focused on continuous improvement, the Group further increased its commitments in March 2021 by signing an unprecedented declaration of intent with the IUF(1) on promoting employee rights to a safe and healthy working environment.
Everywhere, Sodexo applies a responsible approach to ensure compliance with the United Nations’ guiding principles and the International Labor Organization’s Fundamental Rights at Work. The Group’s strong commitments to integrity, job creation and entry into the job market are essential to the economic growth and social development of local communities. In France, 25% of its teams come from priority neighborhoods and the first apprentices to enroll in the first multi-company culinary training center CFA des Chefs were hired by Sodexo upon graduation.
Sodexo also assists its teams by providing ongoing training and filling positions via internal promotion. In the United Kingdom, for example, with nearly 20% of the engineering staff (electricians, plumbers and so on) reaching retirement age by 2026, Sodexo has taken steps to fill the upcoming position vacancies by launching a technical apprenticeship academy. In the United States, Sodexo has created a 10 million dollar scholarship program, that will be available to more than 85,000 on-site employees and their families to access the funding they need to get a college degree.
Respect for and acceptance of all differences and efforts to fight all forms of discrimination – culture, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and identity, etc. – are central to the Group’s commitments. This culture of diversity, equity and inclusion is not only a moral imperative but also an essential condition for innovation and performance. The Group adheres to the UN’s principles on the empowerment of women, which aim to increase their power at the workplace and in their communities, and making progress year after year to achieve its ambitious goals. More and more initiatives have been launched around the world to benefit women, for example increasing their presence in technological careers and operational management positions, as can be seen in the partnership with the Brazilian Institute of Engineering that aims to encourage such vocations. Recognized for this commitment, Sodexo has joined the Gender and Diversity Alliance initiative and has been included for the fourth year running in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.
Day in and day out, Sodexo’s teams take action to ensure a more open, fair and inclusive society, rallying around causes devoted to eliminating all forms of racism (Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, etc.). Sodexo is also proud to have reached a new milestone in the area of inclusivity for people with disabilities by obtaining a score of 100% in the U.S. Disability Equality Index and is also recognized as one of the world’s best organizations in terms of inclusivity for LGBTQ+ individuals (Workplace Pride Advocate).
Sodexo is a key player in improving the communities in which the Group operates. Whether by supporting purchasing power or optimal balance in people’s lives or by helping grow the revenues of affiliate merchants, Sodexo’s teams make individual and group needs the central focus of their daily commitment. With this same awareness of its responsibilities and social impact, Sodexo is having positive influence on the local economies via a responsible procurement policy that is more fair, inclusive and sustainable. The Supply Chain Inclusion Program launched in North America in 2001, which is now operational in most of our regions, aims to promote the development of SMEs and other businesses that actively promote diversity and inclusion.
Sodexo’s social impact can also be measured in terms of the support that its services and initiatives provide to populations in need. In Panama, Sodexo participated in the Panama Solidario program set up by the government and was able to support 275,000 families facing poverty or that are vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic by distributing vouchers that can be used to buy food, healthcare and hygiene products. Many solidarity initiatives are also underway, such as Stop Hunger, which works ceaselessly to fight food insecurity, and the involvement of 24 Sodexo kitchens in France in partnership with Phenix and Too Good To Go in helping students who are experiencing poverty.
1 IUF: International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations.
