Impact Awards 2023: Southeastern Grocers, Workforce Development/Employee Support
Retailers, product suppliers and service providers across the private label industry work on a daily basis to provide consumers quality products that offer great value and enhance their lives. But many companies go above and beyond, and take steps daily to protect the environment, enhance diversity programs, implement unique workforce initiatives, support needed community programs and more.
To honor the work of companies across our industry, Store Brands’ 2022 Impact Awards features several leading organizations that throughout the year have taken steps to support their customers and communities beyond the walls of their stores or manufacturing facilities.
The following profiles showcase the work of companies in several important categories: Sustainability and Resource Conservation; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Transparency; Workforce Development and Employee Support; Community Service and Local Impact; Educational Support and Learning Advancement; Food Security, Safety and Nutritional Leadership; and Philanthropic Innovation and Corporate Giving Initiatives.
Company: Southeastern Grocers
Impact Award: Workforce Development/Employee Support
The COVD-19 pandemic has sharpened the focus on employee health, both physical and mental, and many companies continue implementing new programs to support their workers.
At Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the company recognizes the importance of education and fosters advancement opportunities for associates by offering training programs, scholarships and GED completion programs. In addition, SEG promotes work-life balance with paid time off, paid holidays and paid parental leave, as well as a casual dress code, a flexible work schedule and a culture of belonging and social responsibility.
SEG also offers eight diverse resource groups for its associates, including African Americans F.O.C.U.S. (Fostering Organizational Culture to Unite SEG), ASPIRE (Asians & Pacific Islanders for Resource and Education), Emerging Leaders, Military Families, Pa’lante (Hispanic Associates and Allies), SEG Pride, the Women’s Development Network and the Working Parents Network.
To provide education and encourage constructive conversations among associates on belonging, inclusion, and diversity, SEG offers a number of training sessions. SEG University, its corporate leadership development platform, provides personal and professional development resources to
help associates advance their careers through leadership courses, lunch-and-learns and other engaging workshops. The Retail Leaders program provides leadership training for SEG’s current and future store leaders through a series of interactive workshops and on- the-job training.
The grocer has also implemented a program to support associates in need during unexpected hardships. The SEG Cares Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) associate-funded nonprofit that has supported thousands of associates since its inception in 2013.
With these efforts, SEG has been certified as a 2021 Great Place to Work for two consecutive years and was the only grocer featured in Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking at 48 among the top 100 companies recognized for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Company officials said SEG remains dedicated to its culture of belonging and fostering an inclusive environment to support local communities, celebrate differences and empower everyone to be their true, authentic selves.