TOLEDO, Ohio, January 17, 2022 — SSOE Group, a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, recently announced it will be adding Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day, which occurs annually on the third Monday of January, as a paid holiday for its U.S. employees starting January 17, 2022.
In the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to service, the firm’s executive management team has committed to volunteering in their local communities on their day off and are encouraging SSOE employees to do the same. SSOE President Catherine Myers, PE, shared, “As we honor Dr. King’s legacy and see the parallels to our own company values, it’s only fitting we use this time in service to others. MLK Day is a perfect opportunity to reflect upon and recognize the struggles that remain to achieve social, economic, and racial equity in the U.S. and around the world.”
Going forward, the addition of MLK Day will expand SSOE’s paid holidays to nine per year. It will also be included as part of SSOE’s flexible holiday policy, which allows employees to choose when they take their holiday.
In line with SSOE’s vision to design and build the future for their clients, colleagues, and communities, the firm has challenged its leadership and employee population to each donate 20 or more volunteerism hours every year. Employees who volunteer at least four hours on MLK Day will have a $100 donation made to their nonprofit of choice.
SSOE CEO Vince DiPofi, PE, commented, “MLK Day is often referred to as ‘a day on, not a day off,’ so we’re encouraging acts of service as a way of celebrating Dr. King’s life and legacy. Giving back to the communities where we live and work has been a tenet of our culture since we were founded and is something we encourage employees do all year long—and our corporate volunteerism program allows them to support the causes that matter to them personally. We hope that giving employees this additional holiday will provide them an opportunity for personal reflection as we, as an organization, continue to further our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and look for tangible ways to show it.”
