Sodexo launches global employee benefits platform

Sodexo is launching a new employee benefits program that it hopes will give the company a leg up in the ongoing fight for talent.  

With Vita by Sodexo, eligible employees will have access to a 24/7 phone line that facilitates counseling, a life insurance policy worth one year of their base salary, and paid parental leave of at least 12 weeks for a child’s primary caregiver, or two weeks for a secondary caregiver.

The standards outlined in Vita will apply to Sodexo employees across the 53 countries where the company operates; however, the platform will be rolled out gradually.

By the end of next year, workers in at least 60% of those countries will have access to Vita’s offerings.

“Sodexo is the first global group in its sector to make such a major commitment,” Annick de Vanssay, chief human resources officer at Sodexo, said in a statement. “I’m confident Vita by Sodexo could make a difference in the lives of our employees and help us attract and retain talent.”

As the labor market remains a challenge, employers are trying some out-of-the-box methods to find staff, and working hard to keep those they do have. In addition, they’re developing ways to do more with fewer workers through cross-training and the use of labor-saving products.