SODEXO 
By Issy-les-Moulineaux, December 3, 2013 - Sodexo, global leader in Quality of Life services, reaffirms its commitment to employees with disabilities on the occasion of the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, with the launch of a worldwide communication campaign.
The communication campaign launched today, "Making the difference" (http://www.sodexo.com/en/corporate-responsibility/diversity-inclusion/disabilities/make-the-difference.aspx:
http://www.sodexo.com/en/corporate-responsibility/diversity-inclusion/disabilities/make-the-difference.aspx), showcases eight exceptional and life-affirming stories of Sodexo employees who live with or are impacted by a disability. These employees have gone beyond their disability and focused on their success. They share with us what it means to work for Sodexo, a company that actively supports them and gives them equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
Elisabeth Carpentier, Sodexo's Chief Human Resources Officer said: "One person out of six in the world today suffers from some kind of disability. The inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce is a major issue worldwide, and for Sodexo, a key component in our commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer.
Fostering diversity is not just a question of making the right choice; it is also a business imperative. I am convinced that our progress in the inclusion of people with disabilities has -- and will continue to have -- a direct impact on our ability to meet the expectations of clients and consumers. In our profession, where human interactions and the spirit of service prevail, diversity is even more of an asset and guarantee of our clients' satisfaction."
Sodexo's commitment to support employees with disabilities in the workplace is recognized with the highest number of Diversity and Inclusion charters or labels in Europe. Among them: Austria's Charta der Viefalt, the Swedish Diversity Charter, the Charte de la Diversité in France as well as 8 other European Charters. Sodexo is focused on developing strong and innovative local initiatives such as the SOAR network -Sodexo Organization for Disabilities Resources - run by 570 Sodexo volunteers in the US; the Project Search that brings together Sodexo and global healthcare company GlaskoSmithKline (GSK) in order to welcome students with learning disabilities in the workforce; or the Libras initiative in Brazil which consists of the translation of all training videos for Sodexo employees into the local sign language.
In 2013, the Group ranked top of DiversityInc's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" list in the U.S. and won the "Trophée de la Diversité" in France for its global approach to diversity and inclusion. Sodexo was also selected as the European Union Disability Matters honoree, in the workplace category, for a first-of-its-kind disability network.
About Sodexo
Founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 75 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 45 years of experience: from reception, safety, maintenance and cleaning, to foodservices and facilities and equipment management; from Meal Pass, Gift Pass and Mobility Pass benefits for employees to in-home assistance and concierge services. Sodexo's success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 428,000 employees throughout the world.
Key Figures (as of August 31, 2013)
Sodexo in the world
18.4 billion euro consolidated revenue
428,000 employees
18th largest employer worldwide
80 countries
33,300 sites
75 million consumers served daily
11.4 billion euro market capitalization (as of November 13, 2013)
| Sodexo Press Contact Laura SCHALK Tel. & Fax: +33 1 57 75 85 69 laura.schalk@sodexo.com: mailto:laura.schalk@sodexo.com | Mathieu SCARAVETTI Tel. & Fax: +33 1 57 75 81 28 mathieu scaravetti@sodexo.com: mailto:mathieu%20scaravetti@sodexo.com |
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Source: SODEXO via Globenewswire
