Sodexo North America Hosts National Job Shadowing Program to Promote Professional Development for Women

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to Quality of Life, proudly launched SheWorks, a global job shadowing program aimed at providing women with practical work experience that helps them establish relationships within the company and open doors to future employment opportunities at Sodexo. An initiative of SoTogether, Sodexo's global gender network, SheWorks partners with community organizations to identify women who want to learn more about Sodexo's business and pairs them with a Sodexo employee who serves as a host to be shadowed for a day.

"We are thrilled to have launched SheWorks and look forward to the impact that it will continue to have on communities and individuals around the world," said Rohini Anand, Senior Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo. "This program is mutually beneficial in that it helps women explore job opportunities that will further their economic independence, while helping Sodexo connect to potential talent."

With the help of Sodexo partners including the Marriott Foundation (BRIDGES School to Work Program), Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars (APIA Scholars), and UnidosUS Affiliates, Sodexo ambassadors were paired with women from communities across North America for Sodexo's global day of shadowing at Sodexo accounts.

Sodexo is an award-winning employer committed to advancing gender equality by providing job opportunities for women in the community and upward mobility for women throughout the company. By 2025, as part of the company's Better Tomorrow commitments, women will represent at least 40 percent of Sodexo's senior leadership staff. So far, females hold 33 percent of these positions to date. To meet this goal, Sodexo is proud to promote initiatives including SoTogether's SheWorks in addition to partnering with women-owned small enterprises and encouraging suppliers to embrace gender inclusion.

Sodexo is consistently recognized for the organization's commitment and work in the diversity and inclusion space. In January, Sodexo was recognized on Bloomberg's 2019 Gender Equality Index and FORTUNE'S 2019 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. In 2018, Sodexo was ranked in the top 10 of DiversityInc magazine's 'Top 50 Companies for Diversity' list for the 9th consecutive year and inducted into DiversityInc's Top 50 Hall of Fame.

About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 72 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 160,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $19 billion in goods and services from small to large businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., in 2018, Sodexo contributed over 159,500 in volunteer hours, and since 1996, the Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed nearly $34.5 million to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoUSA.com, SodexoInsights.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Media Contact: Heidi Bullman, Sodexo Inc., [email protected]

SOURCE Sodexo

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