Your Stories & Events

Breaking the silence on IDAHOBIT

253 days ago

0 comments

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) takes place on 17 May each year, marking the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases, serving as a powerful time in history for the LGBT+ community.

Sodexo recognises IDAHOBIT each year as an opportunity to raise the bar and demonstrate our support for an inclusive workplace. As the international day of celebration falls on a weekend this year, Sodexo will host a day of activity on Wednesday 20 May.

The theme of IDAHOBIT this year is breaking the silence, using the day to promote visibility and awareness of LGBT+ issues in order to ensure our colleagues can being their whole-selves to work, free from fear of discrimination.

IDAHOBIT is recognised by wearing purple to show solidarity, and while the current climate may pose some difficulty in this respect, it also gives us the opportunity to be creative, so if you are able to wear purple on Wednesday 20 May, wherever you are, we’d love to see you. Please share your photos with us on social media, tagging #SodexoPride and, if you’re on Twitter, @SodexoPrideUKI.

Also taking place on Wednesday is a global Sodexo webinar, taking place at 3:00pm British Summer Time. The webinar will feature colleagues from all over the world, including our own UK&I Region Chair, Sean Haley, Sodexo Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Margot Slattery, and co-chair of the Pride UK&I network, Nia Bezuidenhout.

The panel will share personal stories, address the importance of bringing their whole-self to work and how crucial it is to get visible allies to build a safe, secure and inclusive workplace. The webinar will be broadcast live and if you wish to join, register here.

However you choose to recognise the day, IDAHOBIT is there to include colleagues with pride. Remember, at Sodexo, you are included, loved, and valued. To further show your solidarity, you can join the Pride UK&I employee network here.

#SodexoPride

Share this story About sharing

Send to Kindle

Don’t slip up when it comes to safety

Slips and trips are the most common causes of injuries in UK and Ireland workplaces - Start Safe, Stay Safe and don't slip up this January!

Sodexo employee cartoon - discounts pouring from chef hat

Your new Reward Hub is here

Every day, you help Sodexo improve the quality of life for clients and customers. That’s a big deal. The new Reward Hub brings together our rewards package with wellbeing, community and recognition programmes to better support your quality of life – and help you succeed.

Be alert to out of scope work

It’s our job to stay focussed on keeping our clients happy and providing great service, but what do you do if you’ve been asked to complete a task that’s not part of Sodexo’s contract? We call this ‘out of scope’ work, and with it comes a higher risk of accidents. Get the support you need and stay safe.

Don't skate on thin ice

Over the festive period, did you check your mulled wine wasn’t too hot to drink? Or take a trolley to pick up the big Christmas food shop, instead of straining to carry a heavy basket? These are simple risk assessments we all make in everyday life to keep ourselves and others safe. Yet we sometimes forget to apply the same at work and keep up-to-date with crucial HSEQ changes.

Mental ‘elf’ comes first

In December 2020, we encouraged everyone to put their mental ‘elf’ front and centre by taking part in Festive 5 – our regional festive Stop Hunger fundraiser. With your support, the activity collectively raised more than £2,700 that will go towards helping those most vulnerable within our local communities.

Start the New Year as we mean to go on

Back to work but feeling a bit out of sorts? It can take a while to get back into a work routine after a break, but be sure not to let safety take a back seat and help us to avoid the January 'bruise'.

A big thank you from Stop Hunger

Over the past year, the kindness of you and your Sodexo colleagues was seen once again in the many donations, fundraising activities and volunteering hours contributed to Stop Hunger's charity partners, enabling them to support those most in need through the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. To bring your impact to life, watch a special thank you video from the Foundation's charity partners.

Getting to know your new EAP

On 1 December, Sodexo launched its new wellbeing offer to colleagues, Talk. Central to this host of tools and services is a new employee assistance programme (EAP), provided by Vita Health Group.

Making a difference to young people

New volunteering opportunities are now available on the Stop Hunger Goodness Platform, including a virtual Christmas messaging service supporting YMCA. With more than 9,000 residents supported by YMCA over the festive period, the anonymous messaging service lets vulnerable young people know that there are people that truly care.

Your new Reward Hub is here

Workplace Pensions

From April 2018, the minimum contributions for the workplace pension will increase - this is a nationwide change, involving millions of people and their employers across the UK.

Your benefits

In 2019, we are celebrating Sodexo Discounts' sixth birthday - see how much you can save!

Employee helpline launched

Sodexo Supports Me is the free service for all Sodexo people.

Welcome to Aspire

Harness the power of conversation with Aspire - Sodexo’s new performance development framework for Ingenium users.

Long Service Awards 2019

On Wednesday 11 December 2019, Sodexo welcomed 174 colleagues to Liverpool for the Long Service Awards. The Long Service Awards is our opportunity to recognise and celebrate the loyalty and service of colleagues marking 20, 30, 40 and 50 year work anniversaries with Sodexo – with this year’s remarkable recipients clocking up a remarkable 7,500 years between them!