Barry’s story: You shouldn’t have to hide who you are to belong

We all spend a lot of time at work. Especially on site, the people around us can become an important part of our day-to-day lives. That’s why feeling accepted for who you are matters.

Barry Dallman, a People Analytics and Workforce Optimisation Business Partner at Sodexo Australia, knows what it feels like to keep part of yourself separate from your working life.

Growing up in the Midwest of the United States and later serving in the US Air Force, Barry says sexuality and gender identity were rarely discussed. For years, he learned to keep that part of his life private.

Today, Barry lives openly in Perth and has chosen to share his story as part of our #BelongTogether campaign.

Why he decided to speak up

Barry normally prefers to keep his private life separate from work.

But he also believes that sharing different experiences can help people understand each other better.

“If people don’t understand your experience, they may not understand your perspective or why it’s important to be an ally,” Barry says.

For him, belonging isn’t about making someone’s identity the centre of attention. It’s about knowing you don’t have to hide who you are to be part of the team.

What this means on site

This story doesn’t change how anyone does their job. There are no new processes or procedures. But it is a reminder of something simple: how we treat each other matters.

A welcoming team can make a real difference, particularly when we work and live away from home. Listening, showing respect and getting to know people as individuals all help create a better place to work.

Barry works in workforce planning, supporting around one third of Sodexo’s mining operations and turning complex HR, workforce planning, rostering, and labour data into clear insights. His work connects with recruitment teams, Village Managers and labour suppliers to help sites stay staffed.

But like everyone across our business, Barry is also part of a team. And he believes people do their best work when they feel respected and supported.

Better when we’re together

Barry’s story is one of many we’ll share through #BelongTogether.

They will come from different people, backgrounds and experiences. What connects them is a simple idea: work is better when people feel they belong.

Thank you to Barry for sharing something personal, and to the teams across our sites who help make each other feel welcome every day.

Belong Together. Better when we’re together.