Sodexo Launches New Global Wellbeing Program
April 24, 2023
Sodexo Launches New Global Wellbeing Program With A Minimum Of 14 Weeks Parental Leave For All Employees
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The new wellbeing program will be implemented across Sodexo’s global offices, including the Middle East and Africa, as part of its Employee Value Proposition, Vita by Sodexo
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It includes a minimum of 12 weeks of payable parental leave for primary caregivers globally; with a minimum of 14 weeks of parental leave for Sodexo employees in the Middle East, and up to two weeks for secondary care givers and five days of family care leave
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VITA by Sodexo will benefit 10,000 employees across the Middle East and Africa region as the Group achieves a 30% increase in revenue growth
UAE, April 2023: Sodexo Middle East, the leader in services that improves the Quality of Life of its stakeholders and consumers, has championed employee value proposition (EVP) initiatives with the launch of an innovative employee benefits program – Vita by Sodexo. Globally, the program offers Sodexo employees a dynamic range of benefits, including a minimum of 12 weeks of paid leave for parents; In the region the program will offer employees 14 weeks of parental leave, which will be rolled out in a phased manner in 2023.
Aimed at improving the overall wellbeing of its employees, Sodexo’s latest EVP aligns with its vision to ‘Create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all.’ Launched across 52 operating countries under the theme of ‘Belong, Act and Thrive,’ Vita by Sodexo sets the minimum standards for an employee benefits package, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to contribute towards employees’ personal, financial and family wellbeing. As part of the program, eligible employees will be able to access parental and care leave, life insurance and advisory services. The impactful employee wellbeing program will benefit 10,000 Sodexo employees in operating markets across the MEA region. As the quality of life benefits become an increasing factor in employee decision-making when choosing a job; the Group aims to attract top talent throughout the region.
Colm O’Mahony, CEO of Sodexo Middle East & Africa says, “At Sodexo, we put the health, wellbeing and livelihood of our employees above everything else in our business and therefore wish to ensure that the benefits they receive are aligned to the needs of our teams. Vita by Sodexo is a reflection of our commitment to our employees’ overall health and happiness. The program that will be rolled out in 2023 in the region will improve the lives of our employees and foster a culture of care and support within our organization.”
Parental Leave guarantees primary caregivers a minimum of up to 14 weeks and secondary caregivers up to two weeks of paid leave. Additionally, to support employees in coping with both professional activities and care for family, employees will be entitled to Care leave, which is an additional 5 days of paid leave.
As part of the new Life Insurance benefits, employees are reassured that their family's financial security will be safeguarded in unforeseen circumstances. Sodexo is committed to providing a minimum of one year of an employee's basic salary to their identified next of kin in the unfortunate event of the employee's demise.
Employees will also have access to a round-the-clock advisory service through a 24/7 Assistance Phone Line, which offers practical advice, guidance and counselling.
Sodexo encompasses an employee-centric business model, prioritising employee wellbeing as a fundamental pillar for operations. This has enabled the Quality of Life services provider to attain higher productivity and efficiency levels, resulting in a steady 30% increase in revenue growth across the region in Q1 2023 in comparison to the same period last year; attracting 3,000 individuals between 2021 and 2022, expanding its total workforce to 10,000 in the region and 422,000 employees across operating markets. With a gender balanced senior leadership team both at the group and regional level, Sodexo advocates equal opportunity across borders.
As part of the Employee Value Proposition, it offers holistic employee experiences under its three pillars of Belong to the organization, Act with Purpose & Thrive in your own way. The average tenure of employees in the region that work with Sodexo is 10 years across all levels. Most of whom start at an entry level grow and fulfil their career aspirations through the career path offered by the organization.
O’Mahony himself started his humble journey with Sodexo as an Event Manager and has always felt a sense of belonging to the organization, acting with purpose and thriving in his own way, reaching the position of CEO Sodexo Middle East & Africa.
"At Sodexo, we believe that investing in our employees is crucial to our success. Our EVP is designed to be accessible, engaging and tailored to the needs of each individual employee. By investing in our employees' professional and personal development, we're not only supporting their growth, we're also strengthening our organization as a whole,” concludes O’Mahony.
About Sodexo Middle East & Africa (MEA)
Headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, Sodexo MEA is fueled with the brand purpose of creating a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.
We have been delivering a bouquet of 100+ services in the United Arab Emirates and wider region since 1974. Across the region, Sodexo’s 10,000 employees work across 400 locations, servicing 100,000 consumers each day. Over 45 years, our teams have grown to offer services ranging from food services, reception and cleaning to construction management, asset maintenance, security and ground maintenance for our clients in offices, schools and hospitals as well as on military bases and remote locations.
We harbour an inclusive, diverse, fair, equal, and positive work environment to improve the quality of life of those we serve and the communities, everyday.
About Sodexo
Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. Operating in 53 countries, our 422,000 employees serve 100 million consumers each day. The Sodexo Group stands out for its independence and its founding family shareholding, its responsible business model and its portfolio of activities including Food Services, Facilities Management Services and Employee Benefit Solutions. This diversified offer meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.
Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.
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