I am Sodexo

Leonard Huisman has a big social conscience. He is a Labour Law and Working Conditions Advisor at Sodexo and is committed, among other things, to Stop Hunger, a foundation working for a world where no one goes hungry.

‘Everything we do as human beings has an impact on others. I want to contribute to others in an ethically responsible way. Labour law is also more than applying rules; it’s about people. That suits me very well, also due to my philosophical background. I want to also be able to convey what I personally stand for in my work as well. I was asked to set up a volunteering program, and since then I’ve been part of the group of colleagues working for Stop Hunger in the Netherlands. Everyone working at Sodexo can volunteer one day a year for an organisation that fights hunger. Sodexo pays the employee their regular wages on this day.

With over 400,000 employees worldwide, you can really make an impact. Here in the Netherlands, we organise food collection campaigns for Food Banks Netherlands and an annual donation campaign called ‘Get Moving for Stop Hunger’.

Employees can then sign up individually or as a team for a sports event, thus raising money. This includes things like cycling to the office, a long walk or an intensive boot camp. There are also emergency relief campaigns such as donating food parcels for Ukraine.

I can recommend volunteering to anyone; you get a lot in return. You meet new people, learn about other backgrounds. You make a tangible contribution to the world. I myself held a fundraiser for the Food Bank with colleagues at headquarters last January. What made this campaign special for me was to see how many colleagues contributed. We have a world full of fellow human beings. It is important to help your neighbour.’