Corporate Diversity

Sodexo's commitment to diversity & inclusion.

Just as Sodexo is a leader in the food and facilities management industry, we are committed to promoting and fostering equal opportunity for employees in all operations of our company. Sodexo believes that diversity and inclusion is a fundamental and indispensable objective which strengthens our company, maximizes the investment of our shareholders, and prepares us to lead in the 21st Century. Sodexo considers diversity and inclusion a business imperative as well as a social and ethical responsibility grounded in our core values of team spirit, service spirit, and spirit of progress.

Diversity & Inclusion Mission
At Sodexo, we believe diversity and inclusion is a business imperative and ethical and social responsibility grounded in our core values of team spirit and the spirit of service and progress.  In our continuing effort to attain an inclusive organization, we embrace, leverage, and respect the diversity of our workforce, our clientele, and the communities in which we live, work, and serve. 

Diversity & Inclusion Vision
Diversity and inclusion is an inherent part of our culture and business growth.  The energy and talent at all levels of the organization is unleashed, resulting in innovative solutions that contribute to a spirit of team, service and progress.  With diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage, Sodexo is an employer of choice and the benchmark for customers, clients, and communities domestically and globally.

Commitment to our Clients

Sodexo's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a very important component of our client relationships.  Fostering a culture that values and supports diversity and inclusion ensures that Sodexo provides our clients with culturally competent teams able to effectively manage the needs and expectations of diverse customers.  We take great pride in the knowledge and ability to quickly adapt products and services to meet the cultural needs of our clients and customers.

Diversity & Inclusion as a Differentiator
Sodexo is committed to integrating diversity and inclusion into the core of our business, not only because it makes good business sense, but because it is simply the right thing to do.  The ability to manage a diverse workforce enables Sodexo to drive innovation, achieve greater productivity, and service our customers more efficiently and effectively.  Leveraging our diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage and incorporating it into the fabric of our organization has been a critical success factor for Sodexo.   

Workforce Diversity & Inclusion
Sodexo employees embrace their diversity in many ways. Community involvement, partnerships, education, and internal Network Groups allow employees to celebrate their diversity and welcome it as a personal and business advantage.

Recent Awards

• A Top Ten Company for Executive Women
• A Top Company for Diversity, DiversityInc magazine
• A Top Employer by Black Collegian
• A Top Company for Hispanics
• A Top U.S. Company for Asian Americans
• Among Top Companies for Latinas
• A Top 25 Company for African Americans, Black Professionals Magazine
• Defense Services honored with NISH Award recognizing our commitment to employing persons with severe disabilities
• Among the Top 10 Companies for People with Disabilities
• A Top Ten Winner of Profiles in Diversity Journal's International Innovation in Diversity
  Awards
• Employer of the Year, The Autism Services Association
• A Top Company for Asian Americans, Asian Enterprise magazine
• A Top Ten Company for Supplier Diversity, DiversityInc Magazine
• Black Collegian Top 100 Employers for College Graduates, Awarded by Black Collegian Magazine to companies based on their anticipated hiring needs for college graduates
• People and Performance Awards (PAPA). Awarded by The Nation's Restaurant News, honoring multi-unit operators for excellence in recruiting, retention, and recognition of hourly and management team members.
• Diversity Best Practices CEO Leadership Award. Awarded by Diversity Best Practices and Business Womens Network to the Top 10 CEOs demonstrating innovation and leadership in diversity and inclusion
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Employer of Choice, Mid-Atlantic Region. Awarded by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association to companies that demonstrate a commitment and progress to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women and people of color in their legal departments

Selected Diversity Memberships and Sponsorships

• American Association of People with Disabilities
• Catalyst, Inc.
• Minority Business Roundtable
• MultiCultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance
• National Minority Supplier Development Council
• National Society of Minorities in Hospitality
• Women's Foodservice Forum

Diversity Celebrations at Sodexo

• February - Black History Month
• March - Women's History Month
• March - Irish American Heritage Month
• May - Asian Pacific Islander American Month
• June - Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
• September 15th- October 15th - Hispanic Heritage Month
• October - National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• November - National American Indian Heritage Month
• December - Universal Human Rights Month

Employee Network Groups
Sodexo believes that Employee Networks are a catalyst for ensuring a fully inclusive and open environment that provides opportunities for all employees to fully contribute to our business success. Employee Network Groups help our employees learn about other cultures, embrace differences, and appreciate the strength and value of Sodexo's diverse workforce.

The company supports the formation and operation of networks that:

• Provide professional and personal growth for all employees.
• Provide education and awareness for its participants and other employees.
• Help drive the company's mission, core values, and diversity strategy. 

Sodexo's Employee Network Groups

African American Leadership Forum (AALF)
AALF's mission is to embrace the spirit of positive change undertaken by Sodexo through the Diversity Leadership Council (DLC). They are committed to making significant contributions to the many challenges and opportunities that face our organization and to increase value for employees, customers, and shareholders.

Pan-Asian Employee Network Group (PANG)

The mission of PANG is to foster a corporate environment in Sodexo that embraces and values the cultural diversity of its employees by enhancing individual and professional growth of Pan Asians and increasing the awareness of Pan Asian cultures, thereby contributing to the success of the company.

People Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality (PRIDE)
The vision of PRIDE is a commitment to dignity, respect, and equal recognition of all individuals. The mission of PRIDE is to strategically align Sodexo's organizational structure to embrace all diversity, inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees, so that value is added to Sodexo.

Sodexo Organization of Latinos (SOL)
The mission of the SOL is to promote Sodexo's success and support its mission and diversity strategy by enhancing the quality of life at Sodexo for Latinos, facilitating interaction and communications among our members and with community organizations, and promoting external awareness of Sodexo.

Women's Network Group (WiNG)

The mission of WiNG is to foster a culture where enhancing women's individual and professional growth contributes to the global success of our company and the communities we serve.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
Sodexo is committed to supporting small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, and the disabled, to provide growth and development with the clients, customers, and communities we serve. Consistent with this policy, Sodexo's programs directly support the people and businesses in these communities.

Establishing strategic partnerships and alliances with business organizations allows Sodexo to maximize our inclusive approach in all our business areas.  We seek qualified small businesses as our Strategic Partners, including those owned by women, minorities, and the disabled. 

Through our Strategic Alliances with business organizations, we maintain relationships with a variety of groups that provide access to our Strategic Partners. They also act as a valuable resource for national trends on business diversity issues.

Supplier Diversity
Sodexo is committed to supporting diverse growth and development in the communities we serve. To achieve this, our supplier diversity initiative is headed by a full-time Director of Supplier Diversity who is focused solely on pursuing these opportunities.

Every year, Sodexo continues to increase the number of small and minority- and women-owned business enterprises that provide us with products and services that meet our high standards of quality, competitive pricing, and service. We currently partner with more than 2,500 diverse suppliers.