POLICIES AND STRATEGY
Sodexo is committed to responsible, transparent, and ongoing social dialogue, as closely as possible to local realities and consistent with global governance. Wherever we operate, we respect national legal frameworks while going further, complying with the principles and standards of major international human rights standards, including:
We maintain a respectful and transparent dialogue with representative bodies. This relationship of trust allows us to adapt organizations to challenges, fully involving employees in shaping change. Even in countries where social rights are limited, Sodexo facilitates the action of employee representatives. Global governance ensures this consistency while promoting local expression.
Our partnership with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant and Tobacco Workers (IUF), the global trade union federation for workers in the food industry, illustrates this commitment to shared progress. From the framework agreement on fundamental rights (2011) to the joint fight against sexual harassment (2017), and then to the declaration on health and safety at work (2021), we are moving forward hand in hand. In 2023, a new international agreement was signed to combat domestic violence, demonstrating that social dialogue can be a lever for societal transformation.
METRICS
| (% of headcount as of August 31) | FISCAL 2025 | FISCAL 2024 | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| % employees covered by collective agreements |
% employees covered by collective agreements FISCAL 2025 43.6% |
% employees covered by collective agreements FISCAL 2024 43.5% |
% employees covered by collective agreements CHANGE +0.1 pt |
After a progression in Fiscal 2024 by +1 pt, in Fiscal 2025 Sodexo continues to evolve with a larger percentage of employees covered by a collective agreement. The rate of employees working in countries that have collective agreements reaches 94.8% in Fiscal 2025, against 94.1% in Fiscal 2024 and 91.1% in Fiscal 2023.
| Coverage rate | FISCAL 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COVERAGE | SOCIAL DIALOGUE | ||
| Employees – EEA (for countries with >50 empl. representing >10% total empl.) | Employees – Non-EEA (estimate for regions with >50 empl. representing >10% total empl) | Workplace representation (EEA only) (for countries with >50 empl. representing >10% total empl) | |
| 0 -19 % | |||
| 20 -39 % | North America | ||
| 40 -59 % | Rest of the World | ||
| 60 -79 % | |||
| 80 -100 % | |||
POLICIES AND STRATEGY
In Fiscal 2025, as part of a deliberate and meaningful strategic evolution, Sodexo transitioned from a traditional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) approach to a more integrated Culture & Belonging framework. This shift reflects the Group’s ambition to embed inclusion into the daily experiences of its workforce, moving beyond representation and fairness to create a workplace where individuals feel valued and empowered to thrive.
At Sodexo, culture encompasses the lived experiences of teams, how people collaborate, communicate, support one another, and connect. Belonging is the intended outcome: a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, genuinely included, and integral to the organization’s success. By embedding Culture & Belonging at every stage of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to development and retention, the Group ensures that its internal culture aligns with its core values and employee value proposition. This approach enhances well-being, accountability, and authenticity throughout the organization, reinforcing Sodexo’s commitment to responsible business practices, community engagement, and sustainable growth.
Through its Culture & Belonging framework, Sodexo maintains a robust system to eliminate discrimination, prevent harassment, and promote equal opportunities. These commitments are outlined in a comprehensive Code of conduct, which sets clear expectations for ethical behavior, respect, and integrity in the workplace. Sodexo’s zero-tolerance policy on discrimination and harassment is further supported by the Group’s Fundamental Human Rights at Work Statement, which aligns with international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles. This statement explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, citizenship, race, color, religion, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
In 2017, Sodexo also signed a joint commitment with the International Union of Food Workers (IUF) to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This agreement underscores the importance of establishing confidential and impartial procedures for reporting and addressing such incidents.
To further prevent, address, and remediate discrimination, Sodexo has implemented structured procedures and grievance mechanisms. The Speak Up ethics line offers a secure, confidential channel for employees to report concerns, including human rights violations, without fear of retaliation.
