Making Every Day a Better Day is Sodexo’s motto, and it clearly exemplifies the company’s support for its employees who serve in our United States armed services. In September 2007, Sodexo received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, a distinction given to 15 employers for going above and beyond the legal requirements in supporting National Guard and Reserve employees.

The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given to employers by the Secretary of Defense for support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is charged with planning, coordinating and executing this program. A thorough selection process considers pay and leave policies, benefits and general military support provided by an employer for employees who are in the National Guard or the Reserves.

About 3,000 Sodexo employees are currently reservists or guardsmen. Army Staff Sgt. Lance Vaughan is one of 38 employees who nominated Sodexo for the prestigious award after receiving solid support for him and his military service during two subsequent deployments. “I nominated Sodexo USA because they are a company that cares about their employees and stands behind the armed services and the men and women who are fighting for the USA,” he said. “They made me proud to be an American and proud to work for a company like Sodexo.”

From left: Lance Vaughan, Tahia Gonzalez, John Bush, Scott McMillan, Torilus Ward and Keith Waterfield