Transcript Document
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Strategies for Employee/Business
Resource Groups
Martha Artiles
Managing Partner
C5 Consulting, LLC
Agenda
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ERG/BRG Defined
Business Benefits
Disability ERG/BRG – What is different
How to Start/Refresh
Resources
ERG/BRG Defined
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Employee Resource Groups/Business Resource
Groups
Originated as a social and networking venue for individuals
that share specific diversity dimensions and serves as safe
haven to share unique insights
Most common focus on gender, race/ethnicity and LGBT
Also known as Affinity Groups and/or Network Groups
They have evolved to become more strategic and directly
linked to the business
Profitability
Productivity
People
Business Benefits
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Cross functional by nature and they have intuitive
knowledge about emerging markets due to their
cultural awareness
Profitability
Products/Services that are more attractive to the particular
affinity group
Productivity
Ideas of how to increase the productivity of its members
People
Recruitment, retention and engagement of its members
Business Benefits - Profitability
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Products/Services that are more attractive to the
particular affinity group
Provide cultural perspectives, insights and knowledge that
can help customize product/service and market accordingly
Serve as an instant focus group to provide feedback for
external products/services or for internal processes/practices
Business Benefits - Productivity
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Leadership Development
Develop management/leadership skills they may not in their
day-to-day jobs
Venue to showcase skills to leadership
Mentoring opportunities – formal and informal
High potentials are common results
Business Benefits - People
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Active in recruitment /talent attraction efforts
Conferences and Colleges/Universities that are unique to their
diversity dimension
Visible in community/volunteerism projects to improve the
company brand with the specific population
Talent retention
New Hire support
Mentoring
Sodexo’s “mini-chief diversity officers”
Important lever for true “Inclusion”
Disability ERG/BRG – What is Different
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Employees may not make their interest known
Different disability focused groups may be needed
Employees with disabilities
Employees who serve as caregivers for adult members with
disabilities
Parents with children with disabilities
Advocates/Champions that ensure disability-awareness
messages are integrated within all communications. Meetings,
events and drive improvements that impact employees with
disabilities
How to Start an ERG/BRG
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Develop a company policy/process for ERG/BRG’s
so there is consistency
Formation Process (relation to volunteerism)
Application (Vision, Mission, Charter,…)
Business Connections – Profitability, Productivity, People
Goals/Objectives that are measurable
Executive Sponsor
Leadership structure
Minimum number of members
Reporting requirements/Annual reviews
Engage employees that have expressed an interest
Resources
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“Employee Resource Groups that Drive Business”, Study
by Jennifer Brown Consulting
“ERG’s Come of Age: The Evolution of Employee
Resource Groups”, January 2011 by Mercer’s Global
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice
“Inclusion Means Equal Treatment for Employee
Groups”. SHRM Online Diversity Discipline, March 2009
“Measure Employee Resource Groups to Yield Business
Results”, SHRM Online Diversity Discipline, October
2007
“Do You Need an Employee Resource Group for People
with Disabilities?”, SHRM Online Diversity discipline,
January 2009
Resources
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www.askearn.org/docs/ERG_toolkit.pdf
JAN (Job Accommodation Network),
www.askjan.org
US Business Leadership Network
http://www.usbln.org
WORKFORCE
MARKETPLA
CE
COLLABORATIO
N
FOR
DIVERSITY
& BUSINESS
SUCCESS
COMMUNITY
C5 Consulting, LLC
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Our Mission
C5 Consulting changes corporate culture to include people with disabilities in
the workforce through collaboration to ensure diversity and business success.
Our Services
Private and Public Sector, Community Rehabilitation Providers, Staffing
Firms, Universities, Business Leadership Network Affiliates
Contacts
Katherine McCary (East Coast)
[email protected]
Martha Artiles (West Coast)
[email protected]
www.consultc5.com