Sodexo Named as a Best Place to Work for People with Disabilities
Gaithersburg, Md. July 13, 2021 – Sodexo, a leader in food service and facilities management, scored 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), earning the title as one of the “2021 Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities” for the seventh consecutive year.
“At Sodexo, we value the significant contributions of our colleagues with disabilities and strive to provide an environment where they can achieve their full potential,” said Tony Tenicela, VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Sodexo North America. “We are proud to be named as one of the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” by DisabilityIN for the seventh consecutive year. At the same time, we recognize there is more work to be done and we continue our efforts to remove barriers that prevent us from fully engaging this unique source of talent for our organization.”
The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). It is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. Top-scoring businesses like Sodexo -- scoring 80 or higher -- are recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”
"We are so pleased to partner with 319 companies this year on the Disability Equality Index. Part of corporate commitment to disability inclusion is recognizing your stance and using it as an 'aha moment' to drive the business investments needed to scale change,” said Jill Houghton, President & Chief Executive Officer, Disability:IN.“Inclusion and accessibility cuts across the enterprise, from cultural representation in the workforce, to technology acceleration, to incorporating supply chain diversity. These are tangible opportunities that leading companies can leverage to create sustainable impact for their business and brand."
Sodexo’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is consistently recognized by external organizations and notable publications. In 2020, Sodexo was named to Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index and FORTUNE’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”
The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 50+ million Americans with disabilities.
About Disability:IN®
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 270 corporations trust Disability:IN to activate and achieve disability inclusion across their enterprise and in the broader corporate mainstream. Through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking; best-in-class conferences and programs; and expert counsel and engagement, Disability:IN works with leading businesses to create long-term business and societal impact.