Sodexo Receives 2011 Optimas Award for Innovation and the 2011 OnRec Award for Excellence in Inclusion Recruiting

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo's approach to internal recruiting and subsequent five percent increase in internal hires was applauded by Workforce Management magazine with the presentation of  the 2011 Optimas Award for Innovation. While the Optimas Awards are known for recognizing companies for tackling challenges with flexibility and ingenuity, the Innovation Award looks closer at innovative workforce management strategies that address fundamental business issues.  

Leading the recruitment industry, Sodexo's Internal Mobility initiative aims to provide programs that support the idea that no matter the position where one starts at Sodexo, the decision of where to go from there belongs to the employee. Sodexo's initiative uses a multi-pronged approach to help employees achieve their career aspirations and strives to increase employee engagement, increase retention of top talent, increase workforce agility to changing business needs, and maximize the availability of critical talent to support business needs. Sodexo's internal mobility initiatives have helped drive the proportion of internal hires from 50.8% in FY2008 to 55.15% in FY2011.

"We are proud to accept the Optimas Award for Innovation and will continue to work on initiatives that help us to attract and retain a highly talented workforce while providing a range of professional opportunities and career paths where employees can grow their careers," said Arie Ball, Vice President Sourcing and Talent Acquisition.

Earlier this fall, Sodexo was honored at The Recruiting Conference Global Summit with the OnRec award for Excellence in Inclusion Recruiting. The award recognized Sodexo for its college recruitment campaign that targeted members of the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality to build a diverse leadership pipeline for the company.

Noteworthy to this campaign was the way Sodexo engaged its hiring partners in the initiative and its creative use of mobile technology to engage top students. More than 30 Operators, HR Partners, Talent Acquisition and Sodexo Future Leader Intern Ambassadors contributed to the campaign.

"The success of a diversity and inclusion program is often judged on how a workforce looks, but it is also the integration of diversity of thought and inclusion of people that truly leads to systemic culture change," explained George Chavel, President and CEO of Sodexo.

Workforce Management magazine is focused on HR trends and tools that help HR professionals deliver measurable business results to companies. OnRec is the world's leading information resource for Human Resource and Recruiting professionals.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 391,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2011)

SOURCE Sodexo