New Perspectives through Diversity:
Diversity Management at ARAMARK
“Our efforts at promoting diversity have had a
favorabl­e effect on issues like customer satisfaction,
employee turnover and absenteeism.”
Aramark
In the summer of 2005, the catering company
vative ideas to contribute. For a company like
ARAMARK officially identified the principle
ARAMARK, the economic benefits of cultural
of international and multicultural diversity,
diversity are obvious.
one it had long lived by, as an explicit and
comprehensive human resources and business
ARAMARK introduced diversity management in
strategy to be pursued throughout the company.
2005 as a way to creatively and productively tap
Guided by the motto “New perspectives through
this valuable resource. According to Uli Böpple,
diversity”, we are committed to recognizing
director of human resources, “The goal of our
and promoting the diversity of our employees
company’s diversity management is to encour­
and seeking to use that diversity to enhance
age all of our employees to embrace the idea of
our company’s strength. We have since taken a
diversity, to ensure respect for different cultures
number of steps that have established diversity
and values, and to promote these principles
as a clearly visible corporate principle. Reflec-
as we work with our partners, suppliers and
ting the success of these efforts, in November
customers.” As a first step, we issued “Against
2006, ARAMARK won the coveted “Caterer of
discrimination, in favor of diversity”, a statement
the Year” award in recognition of its diversity
outlining our commitment to diversity, which
management program.
was affirmed by the Board of Directors and
subsequently by every ARAMARK executive.
Globalization provides an international and mul-
They thereby committed themselves to fighting
ticultural company like ARAMARK with a vari-
dis­crimination and showing respect for all
ety of opportunities: new markets, new business
employees, customers and suppliers, regardless
relationships, new networks. Today, broad-based
of cultural background, nationality, ethnic ori-
success requires sensitivity to other cultures. A
gin, religion, world view, skin color, gender, age
company that is committed to equal treatment
or disability. This commitment has now been
for all is particularly attractive to employees
signed by all 6,000 ARAMARK employees. In
from different cultural backgrounds. They feel
addition, ARAMARK has signed the Diversity
respected and integrated and know that they
Charter for German companies.
have opportunities for advancement, which leads
to increased effort, motivation and creativity. A
culture of positive values also attracts potential
employees who have valuable skills and inno14