Treat people’s culture with care, curiosity and respect.

An Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a voluntary, employee-led group. Members of an ERG are employees who identify as part of a group with shared identities, characteristics, and/or life experiences. Allies are also typically welcomed to join these groups. ERG members collaborate to support themselves and each other. They may do so by joining in meetings together or planning events to engage others in the company.

Benefits of an ERG:

• Meet and connect with new colleagues
• Be an active voice for change
• Learn and grow professionally and personally
• Share their culture, values, and experiences with others
• Contribute towards a more open and human world of work
• Foster inclusion and belonging at work and beyond
• Empowerment for the marginalized group

Steps to create an ERG:

• Gauge employee interest (consider an application process)
• Get executive buy-in and recruit an executive sponsor
• Define group’s mission
• Recruit members
• Host a meeting
• Keep it alive! This is often the most difficult step.

Types of ERGs:

• Culture or ethnicity
• People with disabilities (visible and invisible)
• Women
• Faith-based
• Gender identity minorities
• Sexual orientation minorities
• Age minorities Working parents, single parents and caregivers
• Mental health

Best practices:

• Define goals and a mission statement
• Develop structure and guidelines
• Set a leader for the ERG
• Have executive sponsors
• Mentorship

What have you seen work to ensure an ERG succeeds?