Reversing the Obesity Trend: The Solution Is School Nutrition
By Mindi Gale, Senior Recruiter

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the number of adolescents who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980, from 5% to 18%. This alarming trend was an important topic of discussion at the recent American Dietetic Association’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Denver, where top dietitians from across the U.S. met, including many professionals from Sodexo.

One session titled “Reversing the Obesity Trend: The Solution Is School Nutrition,” led by Dora Rivas, MS RD and Jill Kidd, MS RD, examined how school-based strategies can help reverse this disturbing trend. Studies show that students who eat meals provided by the school lunch program are at a healthier weight than those who do not. Healthier choices are now offered through the school lunch program, including reduced or no trans fats, whole grain pasta and pizza crust, salad bars, increased variety of fruits and vegetables, more baked items and less fried foods. Read more»

Sodexo Prepares Employees to Respond to the H1N1 Pandemic
By Jennifer Heth, Senior Recruiter

Each day, we hear more and more about the spread of H1N1 influenza. This news is particularly noted by Sodexo, as we operate in environments such as schools, universities, hospitals and senior facilities, serving a high volume of individuals each day. For us, disease prevention is an important focus at all times, not just during times of outbreak or increased risk.

Sodexo places a high priority on keeping employees well informed about health risks such as H1N1 influenza and provides numerous resources for our employees to access information about disease prevention and infection control. Our Emergency/Crisis Resource Center provides online resources to our employees, including such information as H1N1 updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand sanitizer and hand-washing information, daily prevention checklists, pandemic action plan information, and responses to frequently asked questions about H1N1. In addition to online resources, each of Sodexo’s units has additional information available for employees that is tailored to that particular location’s needs. Read more»

Engineers Focused on Leadership and Technical Excellence: Society of Hispanic Engineers 2009 National Conference
By Scott Sherman, Recruitment Manager

Engineering students traveled from all across the U.S. and parts of Latin America to attend the recent Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) 2009 National Conference in Washington, DC. Walking through the hotel lobby and the various conference rooms, attendees could see students exhibiting their remote control vehicles and robots or deeply involved in the extreme engineering competitions. Amongst the overpowering technical brain power, another theme also resonated strong. Many attendees were just as interested in developing their non-technical skills such as leadership and emotional intelligence, and Sodexo leaders led conference workshops to help meet these interests.

Jeff Tinkey, Sodexo’s Senior Director of Building Services for Senior Services, presented how Sodexo engineers partner with business executives to better manage key assets such as brick and mortar buildings and plant equipment. He shared examples of Sodexo using infrared technology to assess the condition of roofs, electrical grids and building walls. Attendees connected with the management partnership topic, but the engineer in their hearts perked up as they examined the infrared pictures. Read more»

Students Get a Jump-Start on Career Preparation at the NSMH Regional Conferences
By Michelle Thomas, Sr. Manager, Diversity Recruiting

In this tight economy, it is never too early to begin preparing for your career. Several hundred college students experienced this firsthand as they recently attended two of four Sodexo jointly sponsored NSMH Regional Conferences in Philadelphia and Ohio.

NSMH stands for National Society of Minorities in Hospitality and is the premier organization for diverse hospitality college students in the nation. Its mission is to “educate in order to aid in the recruitment, retention, support and advancement of minority students in the hospitality industry.” The conferences support this mission by providing students with access to industry professionals of whom they can ask questions and network. Since diversity, inclusion and college recruitment are integral parts of the fabric of Sodexo’s culture, it made sense that we would support these events. Read more»

What began as a vision of education and career development for LGBT students has evolved into a strong five-year partnership with Sodexo. Each year, Sodexo and the “Out for Work” organization team up to provide opportunities and career guidance for students leaving academia for the workforce.

The 5th Annual “Out for Work” National Student Career Conference garnered over 600 job seekers this year in Washington, DC. The annual career fair, which took place on September 27th, offered student professionals the ability to participate in a number of activities from one-on-one resume review to panel discussions and employer breakout sessions. Organizations and industry leaders representing various facets of the job market participate every year in the conference. With Sodexo being in its fifth year of partnership with “Out for Work,” it provided a great opportunity to meet students interested in entering the job market and learning more about the company. Read more»

Sodexo Receives National Recognition for Focus on Talent

At Sodexo, our ability to attract, develop and retain the best talent the industry has to offer is a major factor in our success in the marketplace. Our focus on talent recognizes that in an increasingly diverse and complex world, if we are able to bring the best to our company and to create an invigorating and rewarding environment where our employees can thrive and achieve their career aspirations, our company will remain the best in the industry. We were thankful that many of our initiatives were recognized this year:

Sodexo Recognized as Top Military Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs

Sodexo was recently named one of the nation’s top 100 Military Friendly Employers for its enterprise-wide focus on hiring, supporting and retaining military veterans and reservists, according to G.I. Jobs, the premier publication for post-military employment. Read more»

Sodexo Earns Workforce Management Magazine’s 2009 Optimas Award

Sodexo received the Optimas Award from Workforce Management magazine for its innovative strategy to attract and retain the four generations of workers that are represented in today’s workforce. The Optimas Awards are presented to companies across the globe in recognition of workforce management initiatives that directly improve business results. Read more»

Sodexo Recognized with Excellence in Communications Award

The Society for New Communications Research, a global nonprofit research and education foundation and think tank focused on the latest developments in new media and communications, recognized Sodexo with an Excellence Award in Microblogging as part of Sodexo’s social recruiting initiatives. Sodexo also received a Commendation for External Communications and Communities. Read more»

Sodexo Receives Two Awards at the Onrec Expo 2009: Most Innovative Employee Referral Program and Most Innovative College Recruitment Program

The Onrec Awards recognize excellence in talent acquisition initiatives. This year’s winners were announced on November 3rd in Chicago at the Onrec Expo 2009. Sodexo was delighted to be recognized with two awards at the Expo: Most Innovative College Recruiting Campaign and Most Innovative Employee Referral Program. Read more»

Sodexo’s Helping Hands Across America Aims to Fight Hunger and Break Records
By Michele Posehn, Senior Recruiter

Giving thanks and giving back. That’s what many Sodexo employees will be doing in the month of November as the Sodexo Foundation aims to shatter a Guinness World Record through its STOP Hunger program.

The “Helping Hands Across America” promotion was started on October 19 in units across the nation with the goal of breaking the Guinness World Record for the “largest food drive by a non-charitable organization in a 24-hour period over multiple locations.” More than 2,100 Sodexo locations are participating, hoping to exceed the current record of 510,000 pounds of food.

While the underlying challenge of “Helping Hands Across America” has been to continue Sodexo’s presence as one of North America’s largest donors of surplus perishable and non-perishable food, it has created a competitive environment among Sodexo employees and departments. At the North American headquarters in Gaithersburg, each floor has been designated a certain number of donated cans to be achieved, determined by the number of employees on the floor. To date, one floor has reached 100% of their goal with other floors eagerly trying to overtake the lead. Read more»

Sodexo Earns Certified S.C. Grown – “Nothing’s Finer” Designation
By Karen Graham, Senior Recruiter

Richland School District Two, through its school nutrition provider Sodexo, became the first school district in South Carolina to earn the coveted Certified S.C. Grown – “Nothing’s Finer” designation from the state’s agricultural department for sourcing more than 25 percent of the produce and products served in schools from local vendors and for supporting healthy eating and local-farming education.

Sodexo staff from Richland School District Two in Columbia, SC (left to right): Jeffrey Quasha, Angela Thibou, Holly Cherry, Lorine Wilson, Iris Bowman, Chelsia Hightower, Madell Rhodan and Harriette Blume.

Sodexo, in partnership with the school district, developed a foodservice program that emphasizes local favorites such as collard greens, potatoes and peaches. Three executive chefs from Sodexo developed menu options to highlight local products, including grits, cheese and fresh meat and poultry. The initiative to source local products also includes education on local agriculture, including field trips to farms, culinary school programs that promote lifelong skills in preparing healthy food, and cooking demonstrations. Thirty-four schools and centers in the district reaped the benefits of this award, including Keels Elementary, Conder Elementary, Spring Valley and Blythewood high schools. Read more»

Find your Balance at Sodexo—Flexibility Works!
By Darla Mayse, Senior Recruiter

Making Every Day a Better Day is Sodexo’s mantra describing the motivation behind the many service solutions it offers its clients. However, that mantra not only applies to the clients and customers Sodexo comes into contact with on a daily basis, it also applies to its employees. Sodexo has long been known to offer its employees flexibility in a number of avenues: professional development, career progression and their personal lives, to name a few. Owing to its belief that balance brings success and that improving the quality of daily life begins with employees, Sodexo introduced Flexibility Works!, Sodexo’s Flexibility Initiative, one year ago. Read more»