WebEmployee Resource Groups (ERGs) Click on links below to find out more about staff-administered affinity groups. For example, the LGBTQ+ ERG had country chapters with different names and disparate goals. It also addresses ADAAG requirements that are too often overlooked or misinterpreted. Within local communities, ERGs help improve brand visibility through volunteer activities and charitable giving to causes that ERGs consider important. Do You Need an Employee Resource Group for People For example, when the DEI function decided to field an employee experience survey, it discovered that an ERG had already sent a similar survey to its members. Founded in 1989, our first employee resource group, BAM, has led investment in programs like the BAM scholarships and Minority Student Day, an outreach event it hosts annually to educate students on careers in the tech industry. Once you have found an executive sponsor, then you want to make sure you also address the following issues: Avoid choosing a leader from HR or Diversity and Inclusion. Analyze data to detect, prevent, and mitigate fraud. I can no longer support disability as an afterthought Authors note:Because of Mediums refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers,Ive moved my last three years of blogs toSubstack. CPACC Certified Accessibility professional with degrees in CS, law, business. In this webinar, Disability:IN President and CEO Jill Houghton will speak with Microsoft Lead Accessibility Evangelist Hector Minto and three esteemed [], We all have a role to play in building an inclusive global economy. Disability:IN has partnered with Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), a trusted advisor working with []. Hear from our DEI Director Becky Kekula and leaders from DEI top scoring companies, as they discuss disability inclusion trends, takeaways and best practices! The idea of like-minded coworkers getting together to discuss their ideas, commonalities, and workplace concerns has been around informally for as long as there have been jobs. Learn from other employee resource groups, Likewise, everyone- not just people with disabilities-. Executive sponsor support is important because visibility, authority and credibility of senior leadership helps demonstrate why the change the disability ERG will be bringing is necessary. Accessible procurement is key to that commitment. Companies may wish to consider recognizing and rewarding those who lead and run ERGs. For example, an employee who is blind ERGs Creating an ERG inherently creates change: Sometimes through its very existence, and other times through the ERG objectives. Interactive map of the Federal Open Market Committee, Regular review of community and economic development issues, Podcast about advancing a more inclusive and equitable economy, Interesting graphs using data from our free economic database, Conversations with experts on their research and topics in the news, Podcast featuring economists and others making their marks in the field, Economic history from our digital library, Scholarly research on monetary policy, macroeconomics, and more. ERGs also help reform business operations, for example, when members of underrepresented groups call attention to unfair processes. In return for funding and support, ERGs were required to report metrics relating to membership, participation, and funding. 1 American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey 2018 Subject Definitions (PDF). The Disability Equality Index (DEI), a joint initiative with the American Association of People with Disabilities, is a benchmarking tool that provides an objective score and roadmap on disability inclusion policies and practices. ERGs also boost the visibility of underrepresented groups among larger groups in companies. We engage and connect to communities inside and outside Microsoft through several opportunities in partnership with our nine Employee Resource Groups. ERGs add strength to their voices and giving them more meaningful ways to contribute in the workplace. For Pusch, a senior instructional designer at the Banks Center for Learning Innovation, a deeper understanding of accessibility considerations follows awareness. 8 employee networks that foster an inclusive environment. Having a passion about a topic and a safe space makes it easier for one to confront those barriers that have been looming in front of their continued professional development. To resolve these issues, the DEI function brought together all ERG leaders for a strategy session in which the DEI team shared the companys DEI strategy and prompted ERG leaders to explore how their groups could support it. The idea of like-minded coworkers getting together to discuss their ideas, commonalities, and workplace concerns has been around informally for as long as there have been jobs. In fact, our research shows that employees who rated their ERGs effective or very effective were much more likely to say they feel included than employees who rated their ERGs ineffective or very ineffective. Today, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have ERGs.2Georgene Huang, 90% of Fortune 500 companies already have a solution to gender equality but arent utilizing it, Forbes, November 13, 2017. As a best practice, effective ERG leaders take advantage of strong connections within their organization to get access to the right people and funding required to sharply execute their initiatives. They share information using the companys communication channels; ensure that joining ERGs is easy; engage members through frequent communications and community-building events, ensuring that ERG members meet one another; and empower members to take action to further the goals of the ERG. "I feel like that for me, that's the understanding piece that I want to bring forward. Her disappointment with the ERG stemmed from a disconnect between what the ERG was doing and what the companys DEI head said the ERGs purpose and mission were. Its important not to pigeonhole PWD by only encouraging them to join ERGs that focus on disabilities. Make It Safe for Employees to Disclose Their Disabilities .cd-main-content p, blockquote {margin-bottom:1em;} The Disability:IN ERG/BRG Leadership Committee has prepared this fact sheet to assist corporate disability Employee Resource Groups/Business Resource Groups to advance inclusive and easy access to their companies grounds and buildings. Need help learning how you can make your workplace more accommodating to employees with disabilities? The best disability employee resource groups (ERGs) are those that foster open dialogue and networking not only among their own members but also with members of other ERGs. When a company fosters a range of such groups and offers its support (management interest and sponsorship and even modest financial backing), persons with disabilities benefit. This could demonstrate her organizational and event planning skills, making her a great candidate for a position in event marketing. An invisible disability can be physical. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are not new. ERGs are encouraged to identify a Leadership Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Of the five dimensions, employees were mostly likely to rate community building as effective or very effective. Last week, I wrote about how important disability-focused employee resource groups are to creating an environment where employees with disabilities feel comfortable disclosing them and in turn helping others. The group can present the idea to management, increasing the chances it will be accepted. Sometimes referred to as Employee Networks or Affinity Groups, ERGs offer employees an opportunity to connect and receive support from others with similar backgrounds or interests. Also having anERG leadership transition planis important. ERG members who feel well served, on the other hand, enjoy greater feelings of inclusion. The Disability:IN ERG/BRG Leadership Committee has prepared this fact sheet to assist corporate disability Employee Resource Groups/Business Resource Groups to enable members to bring all aspects of themselves to the workplace and to serve as a bridge to other BRGs. The more you have conversations with other people, the more you realize how little awareness there is of what it means to live with a disability. 2. Check out the infographic to learn more. The scope of people in the United States who are living with a disability is vast, said Hughes, a senior administrative assistant in Supervision. Salesforce Toolkits, checklists, books, films, and more about the Americans with Disabilities Act to help aid in awareness, education, and action towards a more inclusive future. This webinar was part of the Inclusion Works Winter 2022 meeting and was moderated by Disability:IN Chief Accessibility Officer Jeff Wissel with panelists Scott Ballina (Citrix) Monica Ackerman (Scotiabank) and Monica Goel (CVS Health). Through ERG inputs, companies better understand their customers and are able to cater products to underrepresented groups. TheDisability Employee Networkis dedicated to the inclusion and equality of Thomson Reuters employees with disabilities. By connecting their members to colleagues and parts of the business looking to embed diversity in operations and core strategy, ERGs drive social impact. Taking a leadership role within an ERG allows an employee to demonstrate successful leadership skills in the workplace. In a survey rating the ERGs effectiveness, Shannon rated the ERG effective at employee community building but ineffective with respect to allyship, leadership connection, career advancement, and external engagement. putting vendor and tool names in an Accessibility Statement provides free advertising for companies that the public or your customers may have concerns about. #views-exposed-form-manual-cloud-search-manual-cloud-search-results .form-actions{display:block;flex:1;} #tfa-entry-form .form-actions {justify-content:flex-start;} #node-agency-pages-layout-builder-form .form-actions {display:block;} #tfa-entry-form input {height:55px;} .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Pride The 2022 DEI measured areas Promoting external impact. We conducted our conversations and research in late 2020 through early 2021. TheThomson Reuters Veterans Networkexists to bring awareness to veterans in the workplace, to show appreciation to those who have served or are currently serving, and as a support group for employees who are active Guard and Reserve members, as well as those recently transitioning from active duty, to help with transition from military deployments. An official website of the United States government. The Outies: LGBT ERG of the Year The Outie for LGBT Employee Resource Group of the Year recognizes a particular employee resource group (ERG) that has a proven track record of success in advocating for LGBT equal rights in its own workplace. For a disability ERG, it is excruciatingly important to have a fully accessible launch. Since that time, ERGs across the United States have connected groups of employees who share interests and identities. After spending time as a teacher with a blind student, she became much more aware of the limitations and abilities of web accessibility, and how essential it is to those experiencing disabilities. Georgene Huang, 90% of Fortune 500 companies already have a solution to gender equality but arent utilizing it,. Videos showing how the St. Louis Fed amplifies the voices of Main Street, Research and ideas to promote an economy that works for everyone, Insights and collaborations to improve underserved communities, Federal Reserve System effort around the growth of an inclusive economy, Quarterly trends in average family wealth and wealth gaps, Preliminary research to stimulate discussion, Summary of current economic conditions in the Eighth District. Affinity Groups: Risks and Rewards . In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) celebrated annually on May 19th, Disability:IN Chicagoland hosted a virtual discussion designed to build awareness on the importance of digital accessibility in the workplace and marketplace. Disability-related ERGs include all levels of experience or management, giving new hires or those with less experience and tenure equal opportunities for input to have their ideas or concerns heard. Taken together, however, Persons with disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States, noted a representative from St. Louis-based Paraquad, who spoke at the employee resource groups kickoff. To stay abreast of such changes, please check: Accessibility Overview of Microsoft Teams (additional links at the end of this document) Teams meetings are different [], This International Day of Persons with Disabilities is the second to occur during the Covid-19 crisis. But they have a knack for convening internal and external experts and igniting a passion in others. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are not new. Effective ERGs also track the outcomes of their work and report them to leadership and their members. .dol-alert-status-error .alert-status-container {display:inline;font-size:1.4em;color:#e31c3d;} WebWe encourage employee connection through our network of Intel chartered 40+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Leadership Councils (LCs). In our research, we looked at how the following five dimensions correlate with employee inclusion and belonging. WebResources that the ERG/BRGs of the Disability:IN partner companies have found useful are listed under three categories: 1. We have also included a case study of an organization that got its ERG right (see sidebar How an effective ERG program came together). Business leaders seeking to develop their companies DEI infrastructure further would do well to understand how ERGs can contribute. Shannon joined the Black network at her company expecting to gain a sense of community, access to special projects, support and sponsorship from senior leaders, and even greater opportunities to advance. As the ninth and newest employee resource group, Indigenous at Microsoft strives to honour, share and celebrate Indigenous cultures within and beyond Microsoft while shaping inclusive technology to empower future generations. All members of the group would have the opportunity to present possible solutions. Their ERG work is often made more difficult because many ERGs dont share practices or resources with one another. A year in, she felt frustrated. They have grown to become important networking, retention, and marketing groups that continue to benefit businesses. ERG leaders also went through facilitated workshops to define their groups own strategies and performance measurements with respect to the companys DEI goals.
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