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The Core Workplace Value Assessment exercise helped recognize what are the most important core workplace values I hold and believe in. These values represent who I am as a person both personally and professionally, determines or explains the level of satisfaction I have currently have with my job, and also helps me judge how I would “fit” with any future job, position, or career change (Hansen, n.d.). The values I hold are not all consistent with the values of my organization, Sodexo. Sodexo’s core workplace values are service spirit, team spirit, and the spirit of progress (Sodexo, n.d.). After completing this exercise, I realized that the top 5 core workplace values that represent who I am as a person are:

• Stability and security
• Professional development and on-going learning and growth
• Clear advancement tracks/opportunities for advancement
• Opportunity for balance between work life and family life
• Respect, recognition, being valued

Even though service spirit does not align with my most important workplace values, I do consider it a value but it’s not a priority per say. We all do give some type of service, whether it’s in the food industry, retail, over the phone, in the military, daily, weekly, and/or so on. Sodexo is part of the food industry service. In my position as one of the leads of Sodexo, among other things, I’m responsible for providing great customer service to every customer as well as make their experience a unique experience when possible. I’m not sure how I mitigate with this value but I do find myself saying “It’s part of my job”. Team spirit for Sodexo is the most important value that is of absolute need. Sodexo’s definition of teamwork consists of: listening, transparency, respect for others, diversity, solidarity in implementing major decisions, and respect for rules and mutual support. For the past few years that I have worked for Sodexo, I have experience a certain level of teamwork. Since we are such a big account it’s difficult for management or supervisors to include other employees or all leads for decisions but they do try their best to include and inform everyone about changes or important decisions. As I continue to progress with the company I hope to be more involved in decision making, implementation of changes, and so on. This leads me to the last value of Sodexo, the spirit of progress.

It is Sodexo’s belief that everyone can improve on any given situation, whether it’s personally or professionally. They support and encourage employees to shape their own future and growth with the company by encouraging them to take full advantage of the training programs and systems available. This value goes along really well with the values I currently consider important. Continuing your education is very important in Sodexo’s management team. Therefore, having the opportunity to work for a company that encourages education is very important to me. There are so many advantages to continuing your education such as, increasing the possibility of professional advancement, development, learning, growth, and so on. As life goes on certain values might change or begin to become less important. At this moment in my life education, stability, progress, respect, and growth are the most important core workplace values I hold.

Hansen, R. S. (n.d.). Workplace Values Assessment for Job-Seekers. Quintessential Careers: College, Careers, and Jobs Guide. Retrieved November 26, 2012, from http://www.quintcareers.com/workplace_values.html

Sodexo Employee Handbook. (n.d.). Sodexo.com. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from www.iamsodexo.com/front_en/Images/Final09HandbookE_tcm80-279403.pdf