ARAMARK Ireland’s restaurant team at University Hospital Galway has received the Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI ) Diversity Award 2008 for its catering operation.
The diversity award recognises those organisations that show a commitment to encouraging integration and diversity in the workplace. The prestigious industry awards, now in their third year, took place last week at Clontarf Castle in Dublin.
The ARAMARK team at University Hospital Galway is made up of more than 150 staff from across 15 countries.
The team was credited for its initiative to encourage integration and diversity in the workplace including cultural theme days, special awareness days and disability awareness events.
The staff training handbook was translated into several languages to assist employees in understanding their specific role and restaurant menus were tailored to suit religious, medical or therapeutic diets.
University Hospital Galway also employs two special needs catering assistants who work as part of their employer based training on Rehabilitation Employment through the Rehab Group.
Joan O’Shaughnessy, CEO, ARAMARK Ireland, said that this award is a testimony of ARAMARK Ireland’s commitment to its corporate social responsibility programme that encourages integration and diversity within the industry here in Ireland.
“I would like to congratulate the team at Galway University Hospital for all their hard work,” she added.
Natasha Kinsella, chief executive of the Irish Hospitality Institute, said that the ARAMARK Ireland team is very deserving of this award as it was very clear from the practical evidence they consider a wider inclusion programme of Ddversity, not just for International workers but minority groups and people with disability and more.
“I would like to commend them for their commitment to encouraging diversity in the workplace and encourage other organisations to emulate their approach."
