Sodexo University Receives ASTD Excellence in Practice Award for Training Program

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Sodexo University Receives ASTD Excellence in Practice Award for Training Program

"Come Alive with Sodexo" Training Prepares New Managers for Immediate Success

GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 2, 2011 - Sodexo was named a recipient of the 2010 Excellence in Practice Award from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) for its Sodexo University course, "Come Alive with Sodexo." Sodexo is one of 16 organizations selected to receive the award, out of a record 182 entries. Sodexo University will be recognized along with other winners on May 23 at an awards ceremony at the 2011 ASTD International Conference & Exposition.

ASTD is the world's largest professional association dedicated to the training and development field.  The Come Alive with Sodexo program was recognized in the Workplace Learning and Development category. The Excellence in Practice Awards program recognizes organizations for results achieved through learning and development practices and solutions. Awards are presented to organizations with proven practices that have delivered measurable results in achieving organizational goals.

"The strategic value of learning will heighten as our change tempo increases. As our company moves ahead on a number of key change initiatives, including our evolution to comprehensive service solutions, we will rely on the outstanding development programs offered by Sodexo University to give our leaders what they need to drive this change," said George Chavel, President & CEO, Sodexo North America.

Come Alive with Sodexo offers just-in-time training that helps new Sodexo managers flourish and grow throughout their first year. The program introduces employees to the company, its strategy, required compliance training, software applications training, critical operations functions, management techniques and self development.

In addition to helping new managers learn the roles and responsibilities of their new position, the training is aligned with Sodexo's 11 core competencies and company mission, vision, core values and strategy. With this new orientation approach, managers are able to get an immediate connection to the organization on the first day of employment, and explore initiatives that foster an inclusive culture, including networking, diversity and philanthropic initiatives. This early exposure positions managers to contribute to the organization in a more comprehensive way at a more rapid pace.

The flexible, blended learning approach includes four interactive online courses and an engaging two-day, instructor-led class that stimulates business networking and high-quality interaction with peers and senior leaders. Senior leadership and other high-level executives serve as guest speakers during the two-day classroom sessions. This provides senior executives with an opportunity to connect to managers and gain perspective at the grass roots level. Sixty classes are conducted each year in 10 cities across the United States.

Program participants and managers report that the training has significantly increased Sodexo's ratings for employee productivity and for employee and customer satisfaction. In addition, the training and skills for this program can be applied to the job quickly, with more than 90 percent of participants reporting that the training can be applied to their job within the first month.

Sodexo University offers diverse learning opportunities specially designed to help employees—front line and management—succeed and grow.  Flexible options include self-study, instructor-led classes, online learning, and partnerships with other organizations.  Employees can earn college credit for Sodexo management training, complete degree programs through Sodexo partnerships with educational institutions, or learn new skills to help them get on a path to promotions and higher pay.  Sodexo University also provides employees access to more than 1,200 books, videos, DVDs and CDs so they can explore a wide range of personal and professional interests.

About Sodexo
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.