Xerox pioneered the first corporate ERG — a group for its Black employees — in 1970. Kanter, Rosabeth Moss, and Amy Hernandez Turcios. ; H.R.5343, FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act; H.R.5673, Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Technical Corrections Act Best practices include: • Measure engagement, retention and promotion rates of employee-resource-group members versus nonmembers. Disability resource groups may provide a way for employees with disabilities to support one another, but for many, the ultimate goal is business results. He recommends undertaking a process . Step I: Develop a business case for the employee resource group or retool an existing one to ensure that it aligns with and supports NASA's mission. Companies have employee resource groups for a variety of different identities. They outline your purpose and help with setting goals for ERGs. They comprise 30 percent of the population and by 2025 will represent 75 percent of the global workforce. This Report is a . Define Your Group's Mission & Goals. The Business Case As ERGs have evolved from "affinity groups" to "ERGs" to now being called "business resource groups," there has been more of an emphasis on them having a direct impact on the business. NEXT . Later that year, Meredith helped change the group's name to ADAPT ("Able and Differing Abilities Partnering Together") and supported its first company . Increase market share. This project charter will help them: Outline the group's scope, purpose, and goals. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that employee resource groups (ERGs) are a valuable addition to organizations and should be an important focus of research, particularly given the diversity and inclusion challenges faced by many businesses and communities today.,The authors review the ERG literature, develop a theoretical framework using social identity theory (SIT) and suggest . Our Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Meghan Welch, is committed to supporting not only our BRGs, but our overall Diversity & Inclusion strategy as well. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are networks of employees that form based on shared characteristics or background, sponsored by the organization they work for. 3. The groups advocate for themselves, and in addition to Employee resource group examples may include communities for women, people of color, differently-abled employees, parents, or veterans. Each member of the project team should contribute to the business case. Document the group's preferences and mutually agreed upon ground rules. Approval is usually sought from the project sponsor and other interested parties. Business Case Example: The 10 Best Free Examples in 2020 (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte etc.) Why is inclusive diversity important at Allstate? With today's technology, 45 . Employee Resource Groups (ERG) are employer-recognized workplace groups voluntarily led by employees. H.R.2142, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 170 Manhattan Avenue in Buffalo, New York, as the Indiana Hunt-Martin Post Office Building. An Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a network within a company where employees meet up (in person or remotely) based on shared characteristics, experiences or goals. Gauge interest Groups need members, and members need interest in joining the group. As a driving force, the team articulated their goal as "creating a place where all employees feel comfortable and confident speaking up and creating allies who can be leaders throughout the entire company.". Today's article will focus on ERGs for women, with a look at a specific group. These groups can be more than just social clubs and networking events. "Mary Guerrero and the Advancement of Latinx Talent: Developing an Employee Resource Group at a Top Tier Bank (A)." Harvard Business School Case 321-017, August 2020 . This will help guide the group's initiatives and campaigns throughout the year. In addition to a group name, draft the mission and goals for your ERG. Black ERGs still remain as relevant as ever — and have become even more impactful. ERGs are simply volunteer-led teams that are responsible for supporting colleagues and driving business goals. "If they want to launch, they need a business case, mission, key objectives and a long-term plan that . The Inclusive Diversity team is the proud sponsor of such an active Employee Resource Group program. The Catalyst Guide to Employee Resource Groups Supporter Exclusive; Practices. Ensure Every Group Plays by the Same Rules. Usually, ERG members share common needs in the workplace. Overall, the business case should be concise and only include relevant information. This shift to EX, as we refer to employee experience, parallels the changing nature of work. In this article, Theresa M. Welbourne (CEO) and Lacey Leone McLaughlin (CEO) supplement the work on ERGs through several different data-gathering approaches. ERGs focus their annual programming around four key . Over 90% of the Fortune 500 have Employee Resource Groups. Employee Engagement 360 Development Benefits Optimizer Technology Experience Back to Business Candidate Experience Popular Use Cases Action Planning Employee Pulse Onboarding Feedback Exit Diagnostic Well-being at Work BRAND Acquire new customers. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are key to creating more inclusive, successful organizations, especially in light of the racial equity reckoning of the past several months. . •Xerox (1970) is known for having the first ERG, the She joined Zillow Group's "Affinity Network" (employee resource group) as a site lead for the San Francisco office, becoming an advocate for mental health services and positive framing. Our Business Resource Groups. She had a toddler son and a newborn daughter and had every intention of becoming a stay-at-home mom. "To make the case that you need to hire someone or outsource a task, you must prove how your plan makes the team's existing workload more efficient," says Adrian Travis, performance management expert and principal at Trindent Management Consulting Inc. Capital One Business Resource Groups are an integral part of our culture, and support, engage and develop associates at all levels. Boston College Center for Work & Family HISTORY OF ERGs •ERGs started in the 1960's as race-based employee groups that developed due to racial tensions. Extractable templates equip ERG leaders with models they can adapt and customize for their own use. Employees Make the Case for Resource Groups After four years with Aetna in customer service, Cyndee Ward was at a crossroads familiar to many women. Implement and Maintain ERGs. Establishing a strong Employee Resource Program is one way for an organization to work towards an inclusive company culture. AT&T's Black ERG . The recruitment, retention and . ERGs help to foster a diverse and inclusive working environment. Usually they are formed around common interests, backgrounds or demographics (examples include African American, Women, LGBT, Sustainability and more). Learn how ERGs act as culture-builders and drive change toward a more equitable workplace. 2. Disability resource groups may provide a way for employees with disabilities to support one another, but for many, the ultimate goal is business results. We leverage the unique strengths, views and experiences of our employees to provide . . Employee Resource Groups, Business Resource Groups or Affinity Groups are traditionally groups that come together because they share some common interest. For example, the mission for a female or non-binary ERG might have the mission of: "combating unconscious gender bias and empower people to move . Employee resource groups (ERGs), which provide a safe space for people facing similar challenges to support one another within a company, are very valuable for any diversity and inclusion effort. They are increasingly relevant today as gender issues, questions of personal identity . Many companies leverage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help. BAM, the employee resource group for Black and African employees at Microsoft, hosts speaker series and various mentoring programs that connect the Microsoft community to students, future employees, and beyond. As a result, organizations are missing opportunities to make the most of ERGs and to recognize the groups as leadership . What measurements make the case to senior management for the group's contribution to business? Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are key to creating more inclusive, successful organizations, especially in light of the racial equity reckoning of the past several months. Catalyst has more than 20 years of experience working with employee resource groups (ERGs) across a variety of industries and regions. Examples of initial goals include focusing on the employer's LGBTQ-related policies and recommendations for improvement in that area and evaluating the LGBTQ-inclusiveness of the organization's diversity training programs. They serve as informational resources for the employees that they represent, provide coaching and mentoring opportunities, a forum to surface issues, a vehicle to enhance performance, provide opportunities for network building and a means to . Document the group's preferences and mutually agreed upon ground rules. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that employee resource groups (ERGs) are a valuable addition to organizations and should be an important focus of research, particularly given the diversity and inclusion challenges faced by many businesses and communities today.,The authors review the ERG literature, develop a theoretical framework using social identity theory (SIT) and suggest . What they seek most from their jobs is meaningful work, flexibility and autonomy, and connection and mentoring. They can also expand . The result was increased sales among the Latino customer population. Also known as affinity groups, Employee Resource Groups give employees . Actions. David's previous show: Employee Resource Groups, Retention & Research. ERGs are here to celebrate, bring together. Employee resource groups (ERGs) are important to a company's success. Ensure Every Group Plays by the Same Rules. 1. Of those who did, the typical one-time expenditure by employers was $500 USD. First, the name has changed. May 7, 2013 Lacey Leone McLaughlin, Theresa M. Welbourne There has been an evolution and growth of employee resource groups (ERGs) over the last 30 years. As workplace diversity and inclusion programs are becoming more prevalent, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are gaining in popularity. However, you may be just starting your case interview preparation and not ready yet to commit the resources, time, the effort that is required for serious preparation. When the pandemic began and workers left the familiarity of their offices and shifted to work from home, once routine, daily lives morphed into one unexpected disruption after another — personally, professionally, and as citizens of the world . Cisco ERGs exist to benefit and advance their own group members by working strategically, both internally and externally. Leveraging di˜ erent perspectives creates an engaging, innovative workplace. The purpose of the business case is communication. "It was from someone wanting me to work on a project. At Cisco, employee resource groups (ERGs) support the inclusion and diversity goals and objectives that are determined by the Global Inclusion and Diversity (GID) team and the Executive Diversity Board. Employee resource groups (ERGs) are a functional, strategic tool for advancing diversity initiatives, including the recruitment and retention of talent. "It's the same process for all the groups," says WellPoint's Edmonds. A&MYP is a networking and professional development group that spans our business units, nurtures the growth of its members and promotes A&M's core values. Issues covered include the business case, infrastructure, leadership support, and means to track effectiveness. As a company, Fender "supports the formation of ERGs with the primary focus of supporting our strategic business initiatives . An Employee Resource Group (ERG) serves traditionally marginalized or underrepresented employees. The business case is needed when resources or expenditure on a project has to be justified. Leaders, HR and internal D&I professionals from the majority group should articulate and write down the value, role and importance of black and ethnic minority networks not just as a support group, but also to the business. When ERGs are properly established, they can impact much more than just the group's members. Most have a similar message that aligns with company . In one example, Frito-Lay's Latino ERGs created the guacamole chip. Provide this customizable Employee Resource Group (ERG) Charter to newly formed ERGs. In fact. . Write a mission statement for your group, formulate and prioritize goals for the short and long-term. For example, Ford Employees Dealing with . In the future, the name "Business Resource Groups" may predominate due to the business contributions of ERGs. Step 1: Audit and quantify the staff's workload. But employees active in ERGs have it tough, and many company executives are unaware of the challenges. When you have several different employee resource groups, it's critical that they all understand the guidelines. Source: Monkey Business Images / shutterstock. Outcomes include supporting employees in their internal and external goals, helping them to network with potential mentors, and giving them an . Witnesses. Then came the call. The number is now at 40%. (BRGs) are aligned with the company's business strategy and assist in achieving our goal of understanding the complex, constantly changing dynamics of the global marketplace and the payment needs of our customers. Medtronic: Igniting Women to Lead Through the Medtronic Women's Network Supporter Exclusive Excerpt: Rather than trying to mandate diversity from the top, he engaged the Medtronic Women's Network (MWN), which currently has more than 15,000 employee . There has been an evolution and growth of employee resource groups (ERGs) over the last 30 years. Benefits of the ERG Leadership Certificate. business; it helps us connect with our customers and each other. A Business Case for Employee Resource Groups. But the organization, like many others, was nervous, especially those in HR and the legal department. Draft guidelines for how members will communicate. The business case was presented to the Chairman of the firm who approved the new employee resource group. Employee resource groups are crucial to a company's diversity and inclusion strategy.A report from Bentley University finds that nearly 90% of all Fortune 500 companies have ERGs, and an average of 8.5% of employees at U.S. based companies belong to an ERG.. I'd love to share the history of ERGs . An affinity group is defined in Merriam Webster as "a group of people having a common interest or goal or acting together for a specific purpose." In the workplace, you may also refer to it by its more common corporate synonym, "employee resource group." ERGs or affinity groups can be anything from sports leagues to book clubs to other random groups where employees hang out to share a . Updated: Jan 17, 2020. The name change signi- fies a movement away from their original "Those who involved in ERG's are going to be more embedded in their jobs and they are going to be less likely to turnover" A Business Case for Employee Resource Groups David explains how employee resource groups can impact the bottom line within an organisation: "This is really demonstrating the true business utility of Employee Resource Groups" For instance, the finance function may authorize funds and the IT department provide resources. Benefits of an employee resource group. We'll continue to focus on attracting world-class . Make the business case for diversity, inclusion and belonging initiatives — showing that they can help yield above-average financial returns, . NEXT . For many organizations, the benefits of employee resource groups have evolved from the . They can act as your customer's focus . Document what aspects of the ERG members' information . Employee Resource Groups, Business Resource Groups or Affinity Groups are traditionally groups that come together because they share some common interest. Sprinklr launches employee resource group for Asian and Pacific Islander population and its diaspora. ERGs have been around since the 1960s when black workers at Xerox organized to discuss race-based tension in the workplace. They foster community and a sense of belonging, help drive organizational change, and improve the overall quality of an organization's culture. Writing employee resource group mission statements. Specify the project's organization. But simply establishing a program is not enough to empower and support . HR leaders and business partners, employee-resource-group leaders, mentors/mentees and sponsors/protégés. . As a result, organizations are missing opportunities to make the most of ERGs and to recognize the groups as leadership . How to write a business case. The groups offer a chance to network and socialize, work on professional development, and to raise awareness of relevant issues. Take away best practices from other ERG leaders based on live case study work. A study conducted by the U.S. Job Accommodation Network found that, contrary to popular belief, 59% of people with disabilities hired required no additional costs for accommodation needs. OverviewWatch Demo And it isn't just the top companies that run employee resource groups; Sequoia's 2021 Employee Experience Benchmarking report showed a 9% increase this past year in companies with ERGs. ERGs are generally based on building or strengthening community, providing support and contributing to personal and professional development in the workplace. The research also shows that the 45 leading . Document what aspects of the ERG members' information . That success was due in part to the creation of self-organized social support groups for minority employees, called "network" groups. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 90% of companies examined helped make . "It's the same process for all the groups," says WellPoint's Edmonds. Black ERGs still remain as relevant as ever — and have become even more impactful. And to put that in perspective, the findings showed that the average onboarding . The 45 companies that Accenture identified as standing out for their leadership in areas specific to disability employment and inclusion had, on average over the four-year period, 28% higher revenue, double the net income, and 30% higher economic profit margins than the other companies in the DEI. If you're searching for employee resource group best practices, here are 5 that might help: 1. Xerox pioneered the first corporate ERG — a group for its Black employees — in 1970. • Individuals thrive and perform at their highest . NASA‐supported ERGs must support diversity and inclusion at NASA, foster communication between NASA's senior leadership and its employees, maintain an open forum for the exchange of ideas . Best practices include: • Measure engagement, retention and promotion rates of employee-resource-group members versus nonmembers. A&M's employee resource groups support you through all stages of your professional development and connect you with others to make great things happen. These groups allow employees with commonalities to meet, support each other and produce a particular outcome that can help improve your business and their job satisfaction. Goals and mission. Once called affinity groups, they are referred to as not only ERGs, but also busi- ness resource groups, resource groups, and employee networks. This project charter will help them: Outline the group's scope, purpose, and goals. Six years ago, Aetna Chief Diversity Officer Raymond Arroyo started pitching the idea of faith-based employee-resource groups to his company leadership. Data will display when it becomes available. Team and created a business case for the need to have a Disability Resource Group. Please Sign In When you have several different employee resource groups, it's critical that they all understand the guidelines. David Clark LinkedIn Improve awareness and perception. HR leaders and business partners, employee-resource-group leaders, mentors/mentees and sponsors/protégés. Initially, Diversity Recruiting and Community Relations partnered with the Disability Forum to launch the new group. David explains how employee resource groups can impact the bottom line within an organisation: "This is really demonstrating the true business utility of Employee Resource Groups" SHOWNOTES. according to a report from Bentley University, nearly 90% of all Fortune 500 companies have ERGs. The best strategy for rolling out employee resource groups is to start with a couple of groups, preferably in the areas with the most demand. Most importantly, they help organizations become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Executive Brief. From a scholarship program for high school seniors pursuing a career in technology to Minority Student Day, a chance for students to . Draft guidelines for how members will communicate. Faith-Based Employee Resource Groups: A Tanenbaum Report for Corporate Members. Develop working relationships with a cohort of peers and mentors who help guide your ERG journey. Provide a timeline for implementation and completion. 3. Gather insights, learnings, and skills that develop and strengthen your abilities in your current position. Leaders should be able to link the role of the . When writing a business case, always define the scope and include an executive summary, detailed info about finances, and an overview of the project's structure. Highlight the risks or costs associated with this problem and justify the need for a solution. Supporting Documentation. As companies strive to cut costs, economize office space, and take advantage of global efficiencies, additional investment must be made to help ensure that a diversifying employee population feels connected and valued. 2. For example, Ford Employees Dealing with . But if you're reading this, you likely don't need to be convinced of the importance of employee resource groups. Let's start with creating employee resource group mission statements. ERGs were created by former Xerox CEO Joseph Wilson in the 1960s in response to racial tension. The Consulting Offer within our Premium membership is, by far, the best way to prepare for case interviews. What measurements make the case to senior management for the group's contribution to business? Identify the problem you're solving. Employee isolation in an increasingly virtual, global, chaotic work environment can have real economic consequences. Our award-winning ERGs are communities within Dell Technologies in which team members with common interests or backgrounds can come together to connect, learn and develop new skills, and impact the business. The 2014 Tanenbaum Report for Corporate Members reviews a common challenge identified by Tanenbaum's Corporate Members — the question of faith-based Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) — and identifies pragmatic approaches for managing them. The first group to be launched was the National Black Employees Caucus, developed to address the . "It was perceived as riskynot something corporate America has embraced fully," Arroyo . AT&T's Black ERG . Your business case should begin with a clear problem that the company needs to solve. Network groups emerged at GenCorp in the late 1970s, when . Create a business case for the Employee Resource Group Articulate a mission statement which is tied to a business objective Draft a tentative plan to accomplish your goals Prepare a preliminary budget Secure executive sponsorship Share the group's objectives with employees and management Eight steps to set up an ERG for black and ethnic minority employees. The data clearly suggest that employee resource groups are not only good for business—they are essential! Catalyst ERG Resources Tools. In its most basic form, an ERG is an employee identity or experience-based group that helps employees within an organization build community and share a common cause. Here is a list of steps to launching employee resource groups within your organization. They serve as informational resources for the employees that they represent, provide coaching and mentoring opportunities, a forum to surface issues, a vehicle to enhance performance, provide opportunities for network building and a means to . Employee resource groups, also known as affinity groups, have emerged in the workplace as a standard component of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help us create that sense of inclusion for all. "If they want to launch, they need a business case, mission, key objectives and a long-term plan that . 1. Provide this customizable Employee Resource Group (ERG) Charter to newly formed ERGs. But employees active in ERGs have it tough, and many company executives are unaware of the challenges. Shelton Goode, Ph.D., is director of diversity and inclusion for Oshkosh Corp. and . 1.