cook

cuisinier

commis de cuisine

chef cuisinier

aide générale

Sodexo

The job itself;
It's cleaning, as long as you do the job to the minimum it's easy. Though with the already problematic atmosphere of the health industry, there are a lot of factors that lodge a wrench in it. Not all nurses/other staff respect you, patients can move across the hall one day and then back a few days later(adding more work for you). If the previous worker stationed there cleaned more lax than you, that once again adds more work for you. Supplies aren't always available, the linen area is lacking extremely with the amount of staff that is out in the hospital(which even then is still short). Management will tell you that they will notify you when cloths or mops are available only not to(This has happened on numerous occasions)

If you don't have a posting, things get even more hectic. There will be practically no consistency of where you're sent and when(sometimes even if you do have a posting, there is always a possibility to be moved, because of how short staffed this location is).

The management;
The job seems to be a revolving door, people leaving in fits and newcomers coming almost every other week. There is a reason for this. There's an overall impression from the managers that you are a cleaner and that's it. It's very unlikely that when someone calls in sick, that the position will be filled by someone else if there are already workers on the floor. There's a short of staff but it doesn't seem that the managers have an idea of where people are needed. This short of staff coupled with a high turnaround rate you would think then that the management would then try to remedy this(from what I have seen and heard from more senior workers, this has not happened).

There's not a lot of support overall either. If you struggle with the physical demand of the job that fluctuates radically, Management is not much help. You are most likely to handle everything solo, which is tiring of itself. With all the chemicals you come in contact with, you are not allowed food/water on your cart or in your housekeep room. Most of the time you are no where near where you keep your things, so how are you supposed to stay hydrated during a shift? If you are lucky enough to have  housekeep room with a locker, you're overall fine(but expected not do take any breaks until your official breaks). There are also water fountains in some locations but if you're being posted to different places each shift, that can be very difficult. This is just one of many, hard to solve but haven't even been tried to be solved issues.(issues that have probably been around for years, decades even)

Overall it's frustrating to talk about this job. I care about the well being of the patients and the facilities, but that adds more work for me since a lot of the other workers and seemingly the management don't. Changes need to be made, but a majority of the workers who want it have given up on trying to communicate it(fear of being fired and overall tried of hitting a wall). I believe this is a good stepping stone job, but it can be hard to step away with how physically and mentally demanding the job can be, leaving myself too tired to do anything but work.

When I first started for Sodexo two years ago it was a decent job and I was able to get a full-time position within 4 months of being hired. I was able to work with great coworkers who worked their butts off.

 However there is alot of issues within the workplace. 

//CONS//

UPPER MANAGEMENT:
 Upper management does not care for any of their employees. Instead the upper management picks and chooses who they are nice to and who they are difficult with. Mostly the employee's who don't ask too many questions and stay quiet tend to have an easier time and the employee's who need sick leave/ stress leave or any restrictions tend to have a horrible time getting what they need, even with the proper paperwork and doctor's notes. Upper management also is horrible to their supervisors who are under them. These supervisors are the ones what Sodexo employee's speak with the most. However when staffing is short upper management blames the supervisors. The supervisors are also told that they HAVE to be mean to employees as if they don't then we won't do our job.

STAFFING:
Like many workplaces Sodexo tends to ALWAYS be under staffed no matter what area you work in. This causes more stress on employees as the coordinators and charge nurses on the floor then add pressure to Sodexo employee's. When you ask for support from a supervisor it is hard to get as they state "they are short staffed and trying their best to help." Which I do believe they are telling the truth.

SCHEDULING:
The poor ladies in the scheduling office try their best to do their jobs. However I feel that some of them were thrown into the position and have alot of stress on their backs from upper management. If upper management could work with all their employees then I feel scheduling would be much better. 

//PROS//

SUPERVISORS:
 Personally I believe we have amazing supervisors who honestly try their best. Yes there is lack of communication however with many employees and multiple supervisor it is understandable. The supervisors do such a great job at trying to help employees out as much as they can. Sometimes you get a supervisor who might be a little mean but again it is understandable that happens in work places. The supervisors have always been very helpful. In my opinion it is sad as within the time I have been working here we have been through many really good supervisors. Either them quiting or being fired. And again I feel the original problem comes back with Upper Management and how they treat their staff.

COWORKERS:
I have worked with many really hard working co-workers and am thankful for the friendships created while working with them. It seems like many of us stick together to help each other out when we truly need it and that is great to see. Yes there maybe times where people slack. But many other workplaces have the same thing so you cannot get away from that.

UNION:
Working for Sodexo it has been amazing to know that I have been supported by a union. Whenever issues arrive and aren't dealt properly, I have been able to be in contact with a union rep who has helped me and answered any questions. It is great to have support when you really need it, especially if management is going against something they are not allowed to.

No matter how hard you try, there will be ongoing criticism from multiple contradicting sources.   That said, the ongoing criticism is one of the only indicators of the actual job description.  Because of the multiple parties that are making demands, the workload is impossible to complete.  Equipment falls apart when you try to use it; when you bring this to their attention, it will be locked out for a week and then returned to you in the same condition with a statement that it is "fixed".  Whether you have the equipment or not, you will be hindered in accomplishing the task that that type of equipment is required for.  You will then be publicly humiliated on their Wall of Shame which posts weekly audits and a white board that announces shortcomings for all to see.  There is also the constant threat of being fired if there are too many "complaints" from one of the sources of your workload.

I have witnessed a worker who was BADLY and permanently injured ON THE JOB, being aggressively treated by assistant management, in front of an audience, as though she were practically a criminal.  She is supposed to be receiving assistance to do her "modified" workload; but instead was put working alone in the busiest area of the facility.  She has to work through her breaks and stay late (without pay) to get it done, and is in excruciating pain.  

Assistant management is aggressive, power hungry, domineering, hypercritical, vindictive, uncompassionate and has no management skills whatsoever.  Management put her in that position, because he felt she had potential.  Management seems completely oblivious to any of the issues and can't understand why there is such a high turnover rate.  It was actually implied to me that I would have difficulty finding things to do.  Management believes the Wall of Shame inspires "healthy competition".  All it does is discourage a group of already burnt out workers.

Then you will receive your paycheque which will not be enough to live on.  It is usually as close as possible to minimum wage.

A typical day at work is started by covid screenings and a quick chat with my friendly manager. PPE is put in place, then off to my section friendly greetings from my fellow employees the whole way there. I make my way through my housekeeping schedule, cleaning all resident rooms, nurses station, staff lunch room, tub room, bathrooms, "soil" room, servery, TV area, dining room and hallway. I auto scrub the floors daily in different parts of my section. The nurse, care aides, activities person, music therapist, rehabilitation staff member and myself work together to ensure every resident is safe and well cared for. I personally enjoy greeting each resident every morning and asking about their day. One of the best parts of my day is when I have these interactions with the residents. I have learned many things while working here like how to work with the auto scrubber and swing machine. I've also had the good fortune to work with nurses who explain a little bit about the measures I can take to help keep the residents calm, a little bit of how some of their debilitating diseases affect them and how to stay safe while at work. I have a fantastic manager and am very impressed with the level of acceptance there is for people from all walks of life in this company. I was especially impressed when during indigenous month this June I was welcomed to bring in my healing drums to go on display along with a lovely arrangement of orange flowers in honor of the  lost children who had been found. As an indigenous woman I felt very touched that those steps were taken in my workplace. I'd have to say the hardest part of my job is both watching residents decline into their disease and having them pass. Although knowing they no longer suffer is some comfort.

A typical night at work would begin by reading the message book.  I worked nights and my boss worked days, so we communicated in writing.  I filed copies of all messages sent and received.

I would then see who showed up for work, and assign work accordingly.  Each staff member had his own job, but I would have to divide up the work of a missing staff member amongst the others if somebody didn't show up.  I also would do some of that work myself, too.  I'm a firm beleiver in leading from the front.

If I had a full staff on shift, I would often do some extra scrubbing and waxing or carpet cleaning.  Keeping on top of this work was not easy.

Machine maintenance was another, although unofficial, part of my job.  "Tampering" with autoscrubbers, vacuums or other machines was officially forbidden by Sodexo, but I always fixed machines if and when I could do so.  When the choice came between fixing a broken down autoscrubber or leaving a floor dirty for the client to complain about, I always fixed the machine.

The big thing which I learned while being a night shift supervisor for Sodexo was basic administration.  I never had to do paperwork in any job before in my working life.  Some of the paperwork was downright silly, but some of it was vital, too.

Management at Sodexo was highly centralized, and I found this frustrating.  Junior and mid level managers had little control over their local situations, and this led to inefficiencies.  Sodexo is run from the top down.

As a supervisor, I had no real co-workers.  My staff however, with only one exception, were excellent.

The hardest part of the job was disciplining insubordinate workers.  This was sometimes necessary but never nice.

The most enjoyable part of the job was getting it done.  I could walk out the door at the end of my shift, knowing that the client had a clean building.

I've worked in many places and by far this is the worst.  Thankfully hospital staff are encouraging and supportive.  Sodexo management are the most toxic people I've ever had to deal with.   They do not discourage bullying or laziness even though they read it off a piece of paper,  and constantly make their employees feel substandard at every chance they get.  Employees are always waiting for product to do their job and when they have to wait they are hounded about why they are unable to do their job, and sometimes disciplined for it.  They are never sympathetic to their employees if they are having a difficult time in their lives (  deaths or family loss and sickness)  or are they sympathetic if the job creats an Injury or hardship. They are very unfair and  have their favorites.  If an employee receives koodos from patients, nurses and or visitors this they are never told,  unless it's a favorite employee.  We are not aloud to relay questions or concerns that hospital staff may have,  treating their employees like idiots seems to be an ongoing issue.   Turnover rate is high, and the employees that fo stay are iverworked and hate going In everyday.  Managemnt can't even say happy holidays to their employees or anything,  it seems to be beneath them.  They hire supervisors and management that are not qualifies for the position,  this explains the culture.  Managemt takes supervisors and staff out for 2-3 hour dinners on co.pany time and tells staff they're in a meeting,  again thinking that we are idiots.

typical day at work: you come in, you go to the change room to get changed, you come up, you sign in for your work shift. you prepare the salad, soups, temperature of food, dish washing station and overall preparedness of equipment. You have 1/3 positions, either you will be in the dish room either washing or helping putting the supplies away and scrubbing. Either you will be serving food and checking on temperature and making sure nothing runs out, if they do, you are responsible to refill it. or you will be clicking in how many students come in as well as swiping their student card and helping maintain supplies such as milk, salads, soup, and keeping the cafeteria clean. 

what i learned: adapt, work fast pace, keep busy because then clean up at the end of the day just because easier. you do learn WHIMIS, quality control on equipments, how to check food temperature and making sure everything is clean

management: is poor,  theyre strict. i remember being yelled at when i was head dish washer because i was talking while working with my co worker as we were both independently working together and being told i wasnt allowed to talk despite no one can hear us in a noisy dishroom. Managers dont really take the time to learn your name, your story, they come in and make sure everything in order and leaves. 

hardest part of the job: just when it gets really busy but you get used to the rush. and maybe sometimes the workers are unhappy and work place drama can occur easily

most enjoyable: the food, everyday is a different meal. so you never have to cook or physically pay for your food. it comes off at 12 dollars in your bi weekly paycheck. so eat as much as you want!

A typical day at work is a 4 hour shift serving season ticket holders. In this job I have learned the value of building professional relationships and personal connections with my guests. My manager is great person but doesn't seem to have any authority over problematic employees, which leads to very unpleasant situations where employees have many bad altercations because management will not step in. It gets worse every season. Workplace culture isn't awesome, there's a sense that as a restaurant worker you are incredibly replaceable. This is confirmed by Sodexo not valuing returning employees, as such: Raises are not considered by Sodexo, no matter length of employment. Neither are promotions. Requests for wage increases are ignored or replied to 9 months later with a 'NO.' Benefits are offered to full time employees only, which purposefully excludes 90% of the staff that makes the company operate. No full time hours are offered. It is like pulling teeth to try to grab shifts during other events than games despite continual reminders and requests. Tip Out to Back of House is based on sales and not tips, the amount is equivalent to the shifts wages, this means servers do not actually receive a wage from the company; they are working solely for tips. Uniforms and work materials are required by Sodexo but are not offered, servers are to spend their personal money matching the company's requirements. This is not a company that values it's staff or their loyalty.

If you are looking for a job I would recommend staying far away from this company. Even as a last resort it's not worth it, much better options out there. 

Management has no clue about what hard working staff actually do on a daily basis, they are too busy playing video games on their laptops or having useless meetings all day without relying important information to the people actually doing the work. 

You will be belittled all day long and bullied. The company claims to support employees but I have never witnessed any evidence of that. Managements top priority is to match their socks with their shirt. The harder you work the more you are expected to do. If it takes you hours to complete a simple task then this is the perfect place for you. The less you do the more management praises you. 

Communication is non existent. False promises, useless benefits that will cost you an arm and a leg. If you ask for a pay raise you will not even get a direct answer. Top managers get paid quadruple of the hourly workers only to read emails and sit with their feet up all day long. 

Horrible hours that allow you with little to no home time. Even on your days off you will get texts or phone calls asking useless questions about work. Forced to take a half hour break (not paid) and also to pay for your meals. HR seems to be quite incompetent and does not actually care about employees concerns. 

Very unorganized place, people running around all day that never get trained on how to perform tasks. No job security, management is allowed to fire anybody at any time, when in fact they are the real problems. Stay away.

my typical day at work would be go in to sign in find out what area i was going to clean, grab my dust mop, wet mop and rags, head off to set up my cart then go to my area to thorough clean my area.
Working in a hospital I learned it is very important you do your job right and to make sure you clean every major touch point people would touch to take away the bacteria or infection people have left behind.
managment is poorly done for this sodexo company, managment really does nothing but help the people they are friends with, so pretty much if your not friends with the supervisors your on your own. like for instence i would ask how to clean a room that had to be cleaned a certain way with special chemicals and the supervisors didnt even know how to do it.
My co-workers are a joke, everyone likes to talk about everyone elses business and dont mind their own, they all need to grow up and live their own lives!
The hardest part of the job would be getting an area to clean that is way to big for the amount of time you are given, so to get it all done you would ave to rush through it all and sometimes forget to do certain things but not even notice it.
The most enjoyable part about working for sodexo is they pay and the benefits, meeting new people and seeing all the job oppertunities you can have if you apply yourself to it!

Top Job Titles	Average salary
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Aide générale 26 salaries reported	$19.93 per hour

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