View source for Sodexo

{{Short description|French food services and facilities management company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sodexo S.A.
| logo = [[File:Sodexo logo.svg|210px]]
| type = ''[[S.A. (corporation)|Société Anonyme]]''
| traded_as = {{EuronextParis|SW|FR0000121220}}<br>[[CAC Next 20|CAC Next 20 component]]
| former_name = Société d'Exploitation Hotelière
| founded = {{start date and age|1966}}<br> in [[Marseille]], [[France]]
| location_city = [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]]
| location_country = France
| locations = <!--# of locations-->
| founder = [[Pierre Bellon]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Pierre Bellon]] ([[Organizational founder|Founder]])|[[Sophie Bellon]] ([[Chairperson|Chairwoman of the Board of Directors]] and [[chief executive officer|CEO]])}}
| industry = [[Foodservice|Food Service]]
| services = [[Foodservice]], [[facility management]], [[service voucher]]s
| revenue = {{increase}} {{€|28.12 billion|link=yes}} (2023)<ref name="PR2023">{{Cite web |title=Press Release Fiscal 2023 Results |url=https://www.sodexo.com/files/live/sites/com-global/files/02%20PDF/Press%20Releases/2021/PR-Sodexo-FY-2021-Annual-Results-ENG.pdf |access-date=15 February 2022 |publisher=Sodexo}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} €699 million (2023)<ref name="PR2023" />
| net_income = {{increase}} €137 million (2023)<ref name="PR2023" />
| assets = {{increase}} €18.99 billion (2023)<ref name="PR2023" />
| equity = {{increase}} €3.17 billion (2023)<ref name="PR2021">{{Cite web |title=Press Release Fiscal 2021 Results |url=https://www.sodexo.com/files/live/sites/com-global/files/02%20PDF/Press%20Releases/2021/PR-Sodexo-FY-2021-Annual-Results-ENG.pdf |access-date=15 February 2022 |publisher=Sodexo}}</ref>
| num_employees = {{increase}} 522,000 (2023)<ref name="PR2023" />
| divisions = 
| subsid = [[Sodexo Justice Services]]<br/>
Sodexo USA
| homepage = {{URL|sodexo.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}
[[File:Sodexo striped cups.jpg|thumb|Cups with Sodexo markings at [[Baptist Hospital (Pensacola)|Baptist Hospital]] of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]]]]
'''Sodexo''' (formerly '''Sodexho Alliance''') is a French [[food services]] and [[facilities management]] company headquartered in the [[Paris]] suburb of [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]].<ref>"[http://www.sodexo.com/group_en/contact-communication-form.asp Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716101648/http://www.sodexo.com/group_en/contact-communication-form.asp |date= 16 July 2011}}." Sodexo. Retrieved 1 June 2010.</ref> It has 522,000 employees as of 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Number of Sodexo employees worldwide from 2007 to 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/223880/sodexo-number-of-employees-worldwide/|access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> operates in 55 countries and serves 100 million customers on a daily basis.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Financial Report First-Half Fiscal 2023 |url=https://www.sodexo.com/files/live/sites/com-global/files/02%20PDF/Finance/Financial-Report-First-Half-Fiscal-2023.pdf |access-date=2023-09-07|website=Sodexo.com |language=en}}</ref> It is Europe’s second largest company of its type by both number of employees and revenue after [[Compass Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Number of Sodexo employees worldwide from 2007 to 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/223880/sodexo-number-of-employees-worldwide/|access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

For fiscal year 2023 (ending August 2023), revenues reached €28.1 billion with an underlying operating profit of 699 million euro.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sodexo Fiscal 2023 Results: Solid pick-up in activity and better than expected performance|url=https://www.sodexo.com/media/fiscal-2023-results.html|access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Sodexo.com |language=en}}</ref> Market capitalization was 11.5 billion euro as at 26 October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sodexo Group|url=https://karleki.com/company/sodexo-group|access-date=2023-09-07 |website=karleki.com |language=en}}</ref>

Sodexo serves many sectors, including private corporations, government agencies, schools from [[preschool]] through [[university]] (including [[seminaries]] and [[trade schools]]), [[hospitals]] and [[clinic]]s, [[Assisted living|assisted-living]] facilities, military bases, and [[prison]]s.  As of 2016, subsidiary [[Sodexo Justice Services]] operated support services in 122 prisons in eight countries, including 42 in the [[Netherlands]], 34 in [[France]], and others in Belgium, Italy, Spain, and [[Chile]], as well as directly running 7 prisons in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restorative Justice and Prison Management Services |url=https://uk.sodexo.com/industry/justice.html |access-date=22 April 2024 |website=Sodexo Justice Services}}</ref>

==History==
The company was launched in 1966 by [[Pierre Bellon]] (Chairman) in [[Marseille]], [[France]], initially serving company restaurants, schools and hospitals under the name Société d'Exploitation Hotelière ({{langx|en|Hotel Services Corporation}}). Today Sodexo is on the [[Fortune Global 500]] list<ref>{{Cite news |title=Global 500 : 437. Sodexo |work=CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/snapshots/10846.html |access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> and the second largest employer among all French multi-national corporations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sodexo: number of employees 2021 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/223880/sodexo-number-of-employees-worldwide/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref>

Throughout the 1970s, the company expanded in France and internationally; first in [[Belgium]], then [[Africa]], and finally the [[Middle East]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} After an [[initial public offering]] on the [[Paris Bourse]] in 1983, the firm continued its expansion into [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Japan]], [[South Africa]] and [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FISCAL 2012 ANNUAL REPORT |url=https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/s/OTC_SDXHF_2012.pdf}}</ref> In 1994, on October 31, Sodexo began operations in India.

In 1997, Société d'Exploitation Hotelière's [[holding company]] changed its name to Sodexho,<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=Sodexo History Milestones |url=http://moveyourmoneyproject.org/sodexo-history-milestones/ |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref> and joined forces with Universal Ogden Services, the leading remote-site service provider in the U.S.<ref name="history" />

On 11 January 1995, Sodexo S.A. acquired food company Gardner Merchant Ltd. from Cinven and CVC Capital Partners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gardner Merchant was acquired by Sodexo S.A. on January 11, 1995 |url=https://mergr.com/gardner-merchant-acquired-by-sodexo-s.a. |access-date=12 March 2023 |publisher=mergr.com}}</ref>

In 1998, Sodexho merged with [[Marriott International|Marriott]] Management Services, at the time one of the largest food services companies in North America.  Included in the merger was a name change to Sodexho Marriott Services.{{clarify|date=April 2017|reason=It would appear that "Marriott Services" was dropped at some point.  When?}}<ref>{{cite news |title=MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, SODEXHO IN FOOD SERVICES VENTURE |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1997/10/02/marriott-international-sodexho-in-food-services-venture/c86fa240-4149-4916-94c5-816726441498/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=washingtonpost.com}}</ref>  The merger helped the company become one of the largest food services providers in the United States.<ref name="history" /> In June 2001, Sodexho acquired complete control of Sodexho Marriott Services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sodexho Marriott Services sold to French parent for $1.1B |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2001/06/11/daily34.html |access-date=2019-12-24 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>

In 2002, Sodexho was listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]], but the company withdrew its listing in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-06-25 |title=Sodexho Alliance Notifies the New York Stock Exchange of Its Intent to Delist Its American Depositary Receipts from the New York Stock Exchange and to Deregister under the U.S. Securities Laws |publisher=[[Business Wire]] |location=[[Paris, France]] |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070625005962/en/Sodexho-Alliance-Notifies-New-York-Stock-Exchange |access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref> As of 2017, the company is listed on [[Euronext Paris]] under the symbol SW<ref>{{Cite web |title=SODEXO |url=https://www.euronext.com/en/products/equities/FR0000121220-XPAR |access-date=2017-10-26 |publisher=[[Euronext]]}}</ref> and trades stocks [[over-the-counter (finance)|over-the-counter]] under the symbols SDXOF<ref>{{Cite web |title=SDXOF: OTC Pink - Current Information |url=https://www.etrade.wallst.com/v1/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ChallengeUrl=https://idp.etrade.com/idp/SSO.saml2&reinitiate-handshake=0&prospectnavyear=2011&AuthnContext=prospect&env=PRD&symbol=SDXOF&rsO=new&country=US |access-date=2017-10-26 |publisher=[[E-Trade]]}}</ref> and SDXAY.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SDXAY: OTC Pink - Current Information |url=https://www.etrade.wallst.com/v1/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?symbol=SDXAY&rsO=new |access-date=2017-10-26 |publisher=[[E-Trade]]}}</ref>

In the summer of 2006, the company made a deal with retired NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur, [[Magic Johnson]] and Magic Food Provisions, a subsidiary of [[Magic Johnson Enterprises]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingleton |first=Jada |date=2024-08-07 |title=SodexoMagic Combats Communal Food Insecurity, Drives Dietary Wellness |url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/sodexomagic-food-facilities-change/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=The Washington Informer |language=en-US}}</ref> The initiative includes a marketing agreement and the formation of SodexhoMAGIC, LLC, a new joint venture that is 51 percent owned by Johnson.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2011 |title=Magic Johnson Forms Deal With Food Service Vendor Sodexho |work=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199179,00.html}}</ref>

In 2007, Sodexho launched its catering arm in [[United Kingdom]] schools, using the brand name "For you...".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-29 |title=Sodexo UK and Ireland 2008-2011 |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/foodservice/sodexo-uk-and-ireland-2008-2011 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The Caterer |language=en}}</ref>

In 2008, Sodexho changed its name to Sodexo, dropping the ''h'' in order to make the name easier to pronounce in many languages worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sodexho Alliance has changed its corporate name to Sodexo as part of a brand identity renewal and revitalization strategy |url=https://www.foodservicedirector.com/top-50-contract-companies/sodexho-alliance-has-changed-its-corporate-name-to-sodexo-as-part-of-a-brand-identity-renewal-and-revitalization-strategy |access-date=12 March 2023 |publisher=food-management.com}}</ref>

The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity is the leading assessment of diversity management in the US economy and globally. In 2010, Sodexo ranked number one.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2010 |title=Sodexo No. 1 on the 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3722704.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315081357/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3722704.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2010 |access-date=16 September 2015 |website=PRWeb}}</ref> 

In 2010, Sodexo entered into two new partnerships: the first one with [[United Coffee]], who will supply Sodexo with machines as well as fair-trade certified coffees; the other one with [[Numi Organic Tea|Numi]], from which Sodexo has selected 100% organic teas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sodexo Reaches Across Supply Chain to Cut Carbon Emissions |url=https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2015/sodexo-reaches-across-supply-chain-cut-carbon-emissions/34371 |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.triplepundit.com}}</ref>

In 2011, Sodexo entered an eight-year contract with the US government, by which the company committed itself to provide food services to 51 [[United States Marine Corps]] mess halls.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-11 |title=Sodexo to provide foodservice for US Marines |url=https://www.fleetowner.com/refrigerated-transporter/reefer-operations/article/21221071/sodexo-to-provide-foodservice-for-us-marines |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=FleetOwner |language=en}}</ref>

== Leadership ==
In 2005, [[Michel Landel]] was appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Pierre Bellon, who continued as Chairman of the Board of Directors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roundup |first=A. Wall Street Journal News |date=2004-09-16 |title=Sodexho Names Landel to Succeed Bellon as CEO |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109527644898018763 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

In January 2016, Lorna C. Donatone was appointed head of Sodexo's North American business operations and CEO of its school operations worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2016 |title=Lorna C. Donatone to Lead Sodexo's Business in North America and its Schools Operations Globally |work=[[PR Newswire]] |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lorna-c-donatone-to-lead-sodexos-business-in-north-america-and-its-schools-operations-globally-300205864.html |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, Denis Machuel replaced Michel Landel as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2017 |title=Sodexo CEO Landel to retire, Machuel named successor |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sodexo-ceo-landel-retire-machuel-160459772.html |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=Yahoo Finance}}</ref>

Following the death of Pierre Bellon in 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |title=French Entrepreneur Dished Out Food at Offices and Institutions World-Wide |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=11 February 2022 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/french-entrepreneur-dished-out-food-at-offices-and-institutions-world-wide-11644591618 |last1=Hagerty |first1=James R. }}</ref> his daughter [[Sophie Bellon]] took over the roles of chairwoman of the board of directors and CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2022 |title=Sophie Bellon appointed CEO of Sodexo |url=https://www.foodservicedirector.com/people/sophie-bellon-appointed-ceo-sodexo |website=Foodservice Director}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-17 |title=Sodexo names Sophie Bellon CEO |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/sodexo-names-sophie-bellon-ceo/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.vendingtimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2025, Michael Svagdis was named CEO of campus and government services in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Sodexo names Michael Svagdis CEO of campus, government services |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/sodexo-names-michael-svagdis-ceo-of-campus-government-services/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.vendingtimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Name change==
The company changed its official name from Sodexho Alliance to simply Sodexo after a [[shareholder]] vote at the company's [[annual general meeting]] on 22 January 2008.<ref name="namechange">{{Cite press release |title=Sodexho becomes Sodexo, the reference brand in Quality of Life services |date=23 January 2008 |publisher=Sodexo |url=http://www.sodexo.com/group_en/press/news/group/2008/sodexho-becomes-sodexo.asp |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704184550/http://www.sodexo.com/group_en/press/news/group/2008/sodexho-becomes-sodexo.asp |archive-date=4 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The reason for removing the letter 'h' from Sodexho, cited in the group's 2007 annual report, is that "in certain languages an 'x' followed by an 'h' is difficult to pronounce". The logo of the company was also changed, dropping the five stars to a single star.<ref name="namechange" />

==Controversy==
In 2009, the [[Service Employees International Union]] (SEIU) launched a United States nationwide campaign<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEIU to hit Sodexo at mayors' conference |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/01/seiu-to-hit-sodexo-at-mayors-conference-024260 |website=Politico|date=18 January 2010 }}</ref> against Sodexo with the stated objective of improving wage and job standards. In 2010, the SEIU recruited students at many U.S. colleges to support strikes and demonstrations in protest of Sodexo's alleged [[unfair labor practices]] including [[Union busting|anti-union behavior]] and paying low wages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bush |first=Bill |date=15 April 2010 |title=Ohio State protest ends with 20-25 arrests |work=The Columbus Dispatch |url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/15/arrests-end-Ohio-State-protest.html?sid=101 |url-status=dead |access-date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418045911/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/15/arrests-end-Ohio-State-protest.html?sid=101 |archive-date=18 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Ben |date=15 April 2010 |title=25 protestors arrested for blocking High Street |work=The Lantern |url=http://www.thelantern.com/campus/25-protestors-arrested-for-blocking-high-street-1.1345041 |url-status=dead |access-date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618085231/http://www.thelantern.com/campus/25-protestors-arrested-for-blocking-high-street-1.1345041 |archive-date=18 June 2010}}</ref> Although one series of strikes at the [[University of Pittsburgh]] led to the negotiation of higher wages and lower cost health insurance plans for the cafeteria workers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2010 |title=200 Sodexo Cafeteria Workers at the UPitt Walk Off to Protest Intimidation & Unaffordable Health Care |url=http://www.seiu.org/2010/04/200-sodexo-cafeteria-workers-at-the-upitt-walk-off-to-protest-intimidation-unaffordable-health-care.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926122746/http://www.seiu.org/2010/04/200-sodexo-cafeteria-workers-at-the-upitt-walk-off-to-protest-intimidation-unaffordable-health-care.php |archive-date=26 September 2010 |access-date=27 April 2010 |publisher=NY daily news}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 August 2010 |title=Union says Pitt cafeteria workers have 3-year deal |publisher=BusinessWeek |url=http://www.nyrca.org/news/union-says-pitt-cafeteria-workers.php |access-date=18 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2010 |title=Pitt cafeteria workers approve contract |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HLVG1O0.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025071825/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HLVG1O0.htm |archive-date=25 October 2012 |access-date=19 August 2010 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette}}</ref> none of the Sodexo accounts targeted by the SEIU have unionized or requested an [[NLRB election procedures|election vote]]. According to a statement from Sodexo, the SEIU engaged in a [[smear campaign]] in an effort to drive out rival [[labor unions]] that have traditionally operated in the [[foodservice]] industry as well as for general [[publicity]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2010 |title=Sodexo Response to SEIU Activity |url=http://www.sodexousa.com/usen/newsroom/press/press10/sodexostatement.asp |access-date=3 February 2011 |publisher=Sodexo}}</ref>

Sodexo filed a lawsuit in March 2011 under the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] accusing the SEIU of "engaging in illegal tactics in its effort to unionize workers".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pelofsky |first=Jeremy |date=17 March 2011 |title=Sodexo sues SEIU over tactics to unionize workers |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sodexo-unions-idUSN1727026220110317}}</ref> During the trial, it was revealed that the SEIU had written and distributed a manual to its staff detailing how "outside pressure can involve jeopardizing relationships between the employer and lenders, investors, stockholders, customers, clients, patients, tenants, politicians, or others on whom the employer depends for funds." Tactics recommended include references to blackmail, extortion, accusations of racism and sexism, and targeting the homes and neighborhoods of business leaders for demonstrations.<ref>{{Cite Pacer Docket
| plaintiff = Sodexo
| defendant = SEIU
| date = 17 March 2011
| case-division = 1
| case-year = 2011
| case-type = cv
| case-sequence = 00276
| case-state = va
| case-district = ed
| pacer-number = 264094
| access-date = 24 July 2017
| use-pacer = no
| use-recap = yes
| case-title = Sodexo, Inc. v. Service Employees International Union et. al.
}}</ref> Following the court discovery of this document, the SEIU agreed to terminate their public campaign focused on Sodexo and the charges against SEIU were dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2011 |title=SEIU and Sodexo Reach Amicable Settlement |url=http://www.seiu.org/2011/09/seiu-and-sodexo-reach-amicable-settlement.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311111540/http://www.seiu.org/2011/09/seiu-and-sodexo-reach-amicable-settlement.php |archive-date=11 March 2013}}</ref>

In May 2011, 27 [[University of Washington]] students were arrested during a [[sit-in]] at the university's administrative offices for protesting the university's concessions contract with Sodexo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Brittany |date=11 May 2011 |title=25 UW students arrested in sit-in over vendor |work=Seattle Times |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015028965_sodexocaption12m.html |url-status=dead |access-date=13 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514170520/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015028965_sodexocaption12m.html |archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> Later that same month, another 13 students were arrested under similar circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schweppe |first=Sarah |title=We're not going away |url=http://dailyuw.com/2011/5/20/were-not-going-away/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709041458/http://dailyuw.com/2011/5/20/were-not-going-away/ |archive-date=9 July 2012 |website=The Daily of the University of Washington}}</ref>

On 22 February 2013, all of the frozen beef products used by Sodexo in the UK were withdrawn following the discovery of horse DNA in a sample.<ref name="graun">{{Cite news |last=Meikle |first=James |date=22 February 2013 |title=Horsemeat scandal: schools caterer suspends all frozen beef products |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/feb/22/horsemeat-scandal-schools-frozen-beef |access-date=23 February 2013}}</ref> The company supplies 2,300 institutions, including schools, senior citizen homes, prisons and branches of the armed forces within the UK.<ref name=graun/>

In August 2013, [[Sodexo Justice Services]] was criticised in an official report for subjecting a female prisoner to "cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment", which "appears to amount to torture" at [[HMP Bronzefield]] in [[Ashford, Surrey]], UK. The woman was kept segregated from other prisoners in an "unkempt and squalid" prison cell for more than five years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saul |first=Heather |date=21 August 2013 |title='Cruel, inhumane and degrading': Female prisoner kept segregated in 'squalid' cell for five years |work=The Independent (UK) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cruel-inhumane-and-degrading-female-prisoner-kept-segregated-in-squalid-cell-for-five-years-8777722.html |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>

In February 2019, Sodexo was criticized by the United Kingdom [[Ministry of Justice]] for failing to prevent repeated and systemic breaches of the human rights of inmates at the Sodexo-operated [[HMP Peterborough]]. This stemmed from a series of illegal strip-searches of prisoners at the jail in 2017, including one inmate who was menstruating and another who was transitioning from female to male. Justice Julian Knowles described the illegal procedures as "humiliating and embarrassing."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-47334760|title = HMP Peterborough inmates were illegally strip-searched|work = BBC News|date = 22 February 2019}}</ref>

[[HMP Bronzefield]] in Surrey, operated by Sodexo Justice Services, were investigated by police after allowing a woman to give birth alone in her cell without any kind of medical support. The baby was found dead in the early hours of 27 September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/04/baby-dies-in-uk-prison-after-inmate-gives-birth-alone-in-cell|title = Baby dies in UK prison after inmate 'gives birth alone in cell'| website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date = 4 October 2019}}</ref>

In December 2019, a dispute between the [[UNITE HERE]] Local 11 union and the Sodexo operation at [[Loyola Marymount University]] threatened to derail a planned [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] presidential candidate debate at the university. The union alleged mistreatment of food service workers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democrats Warren, Biden and other Democrats threaten to boycott debate amid labor feud |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=14 December 2019|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/13/democratic-candidates-threaten-skip-debate-labor-dispute}}</ref>

Starting in October 2019, Sodexo employees (mainly cleaners, porters and caterers) at [[St Mary's Hospital, London]],  organised by the UVW union,<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Mary's Hospital |url=https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/campaigns/st-marys-hospital/ |access-date=2020-12-14 |language=en}}</ref> protested at unfair pay and terms on their contract with the hospital and were asking to be brought in-house as full [[National Health Service|NHS]] employees and to be paid the London Living Wage of £10.85/hour. After being told that this wasn't possible and after Sodexo pay packets missing payments, employees did several days of industrial action, resulting in one of the longest strikes in NHS history. This resulted in all their demands being satisfied, and as there were 4 other hospitals administered by the same trust, all of their 1,200 Sodexo employees were brought in-house and became full [[National Health Service|NHS]] employees in January 2020. The employees were almost entirely black, latino and Asian people and/or migrants. The industrial action was co-ordinated by Loreta Younsi, a Lithuanian migrant, who had worked as a cleaner at the hospital for 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheppard |first=Owen |date=2019-11-11 |title=Hundreds of West London hospital workers secure vital pay rise |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/its-victory-hundreds-west-london-17236587 |access-date=2020-12-14 |website=MyLondon |language=en}}</ref>

Later, a lawsuit was filed against Sodexo after the Kronos outage, which lasted from December 6, 2021, to March 12, 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Smith v. Sodexo |url=https://sodexowagesettlement.com/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20claims%20that%20Sodexo,due%20to%20the%20Kronos%20Outage. |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=sodexowagesettlement.com}}</ref> The lawsuit filed by former Sodexo employee Sharnee Smith claimed that the Kronos Private Cloud, which is used to keep track of some timekeeping and [[payroll]] functions, had an outage during which time Sodexo did not properly pay employees for their [[overtime]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gendron |first=William C. |date=2024-11-04 |title=$1 Million Settlement Alert for Eligible Sodexo Employees |url=https://www.claimdepot.com/settlements/sodexo-settlement-for-kronos-outage-claims |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Claim Depot |language=en}}</ref> Ultimately, the court did not find that Sodexo was liable.<ref name=":1" /> Instead, the case ended with a [[Class action|class-action]] settlement in which employees could sign a consent form to receive a portion of the $1,000,000 [[Settlement (litigation)|settlement]].<ref name=":2" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Notes==
* {{note|revenue by region}} These numbers were calculated based upon the revenues by region in four main revenue categories (On-site Services, Business & Administrations, Education, Healthcare & Seniors).

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{Official|www.sodexo.com}}

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