5 Positive Impacts of Creating ERGs at your Company

Many companies have successfully implemented Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) within their organizations and seen great results! Here are 5 Positive impacts you can expect to see by creating ERGs at your company.

It is much easier for employees to feel like they belong in small groups rather than being 1 member of a large organization. When you find people in your large company who have similar interests or backgrounds to you, you quickly feel like you fit in. Employees who feel like they belong are much less likely to go looking for jobs elsewhere.

It is much easier for employees to feel like they belong in small groups rather than being 1 member of a large organization. When you find people in your large company who have similar interests or backgrounds to you, you quickly feel like you fit in. Employees who feel like they belong are much less likely to go looking for jobs elsewhere.

Do you remember how difficult it was when you first started your job to get to know people beyond work? As a new hire, it is comforting to receive a list of different employee groups that exist within a company and their upcoming social or professional development events they are hosting. It creates a clear path to making friends at work beyond the people on your immediate team.

In smaller circles of like-minded individuals like ERGs, employees gain the confidence to speak up and voice their ideas and opinions. ERGs often become a safe space to bring your true self to work and when the walls come down, it opens the door to conversations that will push your company forward. ERGs invite innovation into the room by making employees feel safe and comfortable.

Last but not least, ERG’s are most widely known for encouraging inclusive workplaces. It shows your employees that your company supports who they are as an individual and wants them to feel comfortable and accepted at work. Being able to speak about your ERGs to candidates during interviews will help your company attract more diverse, talented individuals to your company.

One company who has successfully leveraged ERGs to boost their employee experience is Reddit. You can read more about their story in this article by Great Places to Work It is important to note that ERGs are most successful when they are a grassroots effort. As a leader, you should inform your employees that they are encouraged to create employee communities but you should not force this practice and assign membership or leadership. If you present ERGs as a voluntary opportunity, the people who believe in your company and culture will step up to build and lead them. This method will make the experience more enjoyable and more widely adopted across your organization.

The Shaka Communities feature gives employees the ability to create and moderate ERGs of their own. It is a space where employees can post events, create discussion boards, make announcements and view other members of their group. Separating these communities from a Slack or Teams channel is important because it allows employees to separate work and fun and view ERGs as a step away from their constant work notifications into a safe, uplifting space.