ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Sodexo UK & Ireland has been recognised for the second consecutive year for its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025.

The listing has been running for 15 years - it recognises and celebrates organisations that demonstrate progress towards creating more fair and inclusive workplaces. The 2025 listing was announced by Business in the Community (BITC), The King's Responsible Business Network.

To be included in the Top 50, organisations must show that they are taking action by:

• Embedding flexible working - proven to lead to a more inclusive working world

• Ensuring equitable support for parents and carers in the workplace, regardless of gender or for whom they provide care

• Taking active, dedicated efforts to surface and address the ongoing issue of sexual harassment

• Ensuring an intersectional approach, collecting data and addressing barriers faced by different groups in the workforceSodexo's initiatives include:

• Support for colleagues experiencing domestic abuse. Together with EIDA (Employer's Initiative on Domestic Abuse) and BITC (Business in the Community), Sodexo has supported the formation of a domestic abuse working group which will help further inform its approach. Globally, Sodexo was the first company in its sector to sign a joint intent with the International Union Federation (IUF) declaring support to prevent domestic abuse worldwide.

• A programme of support and awareness of menopause and endometriosis through the creation of working groups, appointment of champions and internal events such as virtual menopause cafes. The company is an accredited menopause friendly employer and a member of the endometriosis friendly employer scheme.

• A global benefits programme, Vita, sets minimum standards for benefits in all the countries where Sodexo operates. It focuses on three benefits: life insurance, an assistance phone line and parental and care leave.

• Fostering balanced teams across the business - currently 46 per cent of the leadership team are female and 38 per cent of colleagues in operational leadership roles are women. It says its pay gap data, combined with workforce diversity statistics, are helping the company build a picture of where its people are facing barriers.