Focus on Quality of Life, a top priority for international decision-makers

Corporate, healthcare and educational leaders around the world believe Quality of Life drives performance in their organisations

March 3, 2015 – In today’s global marketplace, a majority of corporate, healthcare and educational leaders says they see the improvement of quality of life for employees, patients and students as a new lever for performance.

According to a new Sodexo – Harris Interactive survey, “How Leaders Value Quality of Life,” 66% of the top managers in corporate, healthcare and educational institutions in developed and emerging countries interviewed say they are totally convinced that improving quality of life is a strategic priority for their institutions.

The survey is the first study of its kind examining the impact of quality of life as a factor of performance in organisations around the world.

Sodexo, working with Harris Interactive, compiled the report over three months from November 2014 to January 2015, drawing on interviews with 780 leading figures in the fields of business, healthcare and education across six countries (Brazil, China, France, India, UK and USA).

“Improving Quality of Life, which is the heart of Sodexo’s mission, is increasingly recognised as a top priority in organisations in developed and developing markets, and it’s just the beginning.

The importance of Quality of Life will rise as end-users grow increasingly powerful, with new technologies amplifying consumers’ voices and new generations taking a greater role in the workforce,” says Michel Landel, CEO of Sodexo.

“This survey is the first international barometer among key decision makers. It is a unique study in that we did not solicit the point of view of end-users or consumers, as has been done previously, but rather those who take the decisions that influence quality of life in their organisations,” says Delphine Martelli-Banégas, Head of the Corporate Department at Harris Interactive.

1- Quality of Life: a strong and measurable impact on performance

91% of the leaders surveyed said they perceived a link between Quality of Life and performance in their organisation, with 57% saying they “totally agree” with this idea. This conviction is based on direct experience since 86% of leaders have already implemented at least three Quality of Life initiatives within their organisations.

Improving Quality of Life has diverse impacts on performance: 99% say it has an impact on satisfaction (of employees, patient, and students), 94% on image and reputation, 93% on productivity/efficiency and 88% on business/economic performance.

2- This is just the start: Quality of Life is seen growing in importance

The survey also shows that this new management focus is steadily gaining traction throughout the economy as a whole. A full 65% of global business leaders interviewed in the survey forecast that improving the well-being of employees and customers will be a vital consideration in years to come.

This shift in attitudes is being driven by the new realities of a changing world. As technological changes put end-users in the driving seat – and the generations that have grown up with this new technology increasingly dominate the labor market – so will the improvement of quality of life become an increasingly important factor in strategic decision-making, leaders say.

3- Healthcare is leading the way

The Sodexo study shows that the healthcare sector is ahead in this new approach. With their human-centered businesses, managers from this field lead their peers from the corporate or university world in terms of initiatives to boost quality of life as well as in their dedicated metrics to measure its performance. Among the healthcare leaders interviewed for the survey, 90% said they give a high level of importance of improving quality of life in their organisation, compared with 71% in education and 43% in the corporate world. 83% said they have specific metrics measuring the impact of QOL on performance compared to 64% in education and 40% in the corporate sector.

Highlights of the Sodexo Survey:

· 66% of leaders interviewed said quality of life is already a priority in their organisation

· 86% said they have already implemented at least three specific quality of life initiatives

· 60% of organisations have a dedicated budget for quality of life

· 48% have already appointed a dedicated team or officer to oversee quality of life

· 57% of leaders interviewed are convinced that quality of life has an important impact on their organisation’s performance

· 62% of organisations have instituted specific metrics to gauge quality of life’s impact on performance

· 65% of leaders believe that improving quality of life will assume greater importance in future, led by healthcare (79%) and education (68%) and followed by corporations (50%)

Quality of Life initiatives can be classified according to 6 different dimensions:

· Physical environment

· Social interactions

· Ease and efficiency

· Health and nutrition

· Recognition

· Personal growth

For more on the survey: http://www.qualityoflifeobserver.com/content/quality-of-life-survey

Sodexo’s forthcoming Quality of Life Conference

As an international leader in quality of life services, Sodexo is committed to deepening its understanding of how the issue is embraced in organisations today and will host a global conference dedicated to the subject in May 2015 in New York.

The Quality of Life Conference will bring together an unparalleled array of eminent thinkers and practitioners from all professional walks of life and from around the world.

It will be structured around six key aspects of quality of life – space management, local communities, personal recognition, nutrition, technology and gender balance – and will examine issues including how organisations can adapt to improve quality of life, the emergence of the quality of life economic model and how to ensure the next generation is invested in the process of change.

About Harris Interactive France

Harris Interactive France is a historical market research player.

Managed by its founders Nathalie Perrio-Combeaux and Patrick Van Bloeme, the institute develops innovative qualitative and quantitative approaches, both in France and abroad.

Animated by the energy of passion, driven by innovation and convinced that the market is radically changing, Harris Interactive supports its clients in facing new challenges and re-thinks the market research business with them.

Since July 2014, Harris Interactive Europe (including Harris Interactive France, UK and Germany) joined ITWP allowing this international Group to extend its presence in the Market Research sector.

About Sodexo

Founded in 1966 in Marseille by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organisational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 75 million customers each day through its unique combination of On-Site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services.

Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients with an integrated offer developed over nearly 50 years of experience: from reception, maintenance and cleaning, to foodservices and facilities and equipment management; from Meal Pass, Gift Pass and Mobility Pass benefits for employees to in-home assistance and concierge services.

Sodexo’s success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 420,000 employees throughout the world.

Key figures (as of August 31, 2014)

18 billion euro consolidated revenues

420 000 employees

18th largest employer worldwide

80 countries

32 700 sites

75 million consumers served daily

12.8 billion euro in market capitalisation (as of January 8, 2015)

Contact

Elise Martin Davies or Jess Sullivan on Tel: 0207 526 3600, E-mail: Sodexouk@apcoworldwide.com