People with Disabilities

Did you know that Mental health conditions are among the leading cause of disability around the world?

At Sodexo, we’re committed to providing a work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work – this includes those with visible and invisible disabilities, often a source of untapped talent. Diversity and inclusion is fundamental to our business strategy and a cornerstone of our culture. In 2015, Sodexo committed to providing 100% of its workforce with access to programs for people with disabilities by the year 2025. This means that in all countries where Sodexo operates, we will establish measurable initiatives to promote the recruitment, engagement and development of people with disabilities (PWD), within the parameters local laws and policies.

In celebrating the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3., 2018, Sodexo has focused on raising awareness on mental health through the initiative: Open our minds on mental health.

Because:

  • 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health condition at some point in our life, according to the World Health Organization,
  • Mental health conditions are the leading cause of workplace absenteeism, costing the global economy $1 trillion each year,
  • 1 in 6 of the working population will have a mental health condition at any given time,
  • Yet, only 1 in 3 people experiencing a mental health condition will seek help and treatment.

Our 2017 Campaign

Recognizing and leveraging our personal identity characteristics is what makes us strong as a company and a premier Quality of Life services provider to the 75 million consumers around the world that we have the privilege of serving daily. At Sodexo, we’re committed to providing a work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work – this includes those with disabilities, often a source of untapped talent. Diversity and inclusion is fundamental to our business strategy and a cornerstone of our culture. In 2015, Sodexo committed to providing 100% of our workforce with access to programs for people with disabilities by the year 2025. This means that in all countries where Sodexo operates, we will establish measurable initiatives to promote the recruitment, engagement and development of people with disabilities (PWD), within the parameters local laws and policies.

In celebrating the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3., 2017, Sodexo has focused on raising awareness around invisible disabilities, with a special focus on mental health through the initiative: There’s much more to all of us than you might know - Open-Up.

Our 2016 Campaign

As a responsible employer, we have made of our commitments to employees with disabilities a key part of our Diversity and Inclusion strategy. As such, we are engaged in improving the quality of live of employees with disabilities by providing them an inclusive and adapted work environment where people with disabilities can thrive and reach their full potential. Creating a more inclusive workplace will make us stronger, more innovative and better at serving our 75 million consumers worldwide every day.

In celebrating the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3., 2016, Sodexo has focused on raising awareness through the initiative:

Open-Up… to our ability to talk about disability
Disability is not always easy to discuss: you’d be surprised by the facts. It costs little to accommodate financially, encourages innovation and creates more supportive and happier teams. It’s just the ability to talk about it that we’re missing.

Sodexo is in the second year of our 10-year journey towards our commitment that 100% of our workforce will have access to our programs for people with disabilities by 2025. Participating in the Open-Up initiative will promote awareness and reinforce our intention to drive an inclusive environment for people with disabilities wherever Sodexo operates.

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Our 2014 and 2013 campaigns

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In the United States, Sodexo employees are learning to foster a more inclusive environment and be visible allies of PWDs through the Voice program, created by disability advocacy pioneer Deb Dagit. Since September 2014, more than 225 participants have completed or signed up for the series of interactive classroom and digital courses.
Through the Club Handicap et Compétences, a mentoring program in France, we champion the values of diversity and inclusion alongside 16 other leading companies by helping smaller and medium companies that do not have the know-how nor the resources to engage in a disability approach.
In Eastern China, our human resources and operations management teams visit the homes of our 47 employees with disabilities during the Chinese New Year period, bringing holiday greetings and soliciting feedback on employees’ experiences within the organization.
In Italy, Sodexo’s participation in the Dote Sostegno program helps provide individual coaching to our employees with disabilities to make them feel valued and totally included in the teams. Sodexo employees have benefited from this initiative and completed 30 hours of individual training over 6 months.
Out of concern for the well-being of our hearing impaired employees in Brazil, we begun translating our healthcare, quality and safety training videos into the Libras sign language in 2012. This initiative supports employees to grow and develop, become more involved and ultimately become valued members of the organization.