What are employee resource groups? 👭
Employee resource groups are volunteer-based, employee-led groups whose mission statement is to unite diverse team members with a shared characteristic. That could be ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or other interests.
What is the benefit of an Employee Resource Group? ☺️
There are many benefits to employee engagement within an ERG. Here are some of the biggest rewards they offer:
- ERG's empower employees to connect more deeply, especially those in remote teams, through hands-on diversity team building activities. When employees feel a sense of belonging in the workplace and are connected with their colleagues, they experience higher job satisfaction, leading to a better work environment overall.
- Many organizations boast that they are leading a diverse workforce with an inclusive work environment, but don't follow through on their promise. ERG leadership can strengthen confidence in employees that they truly do work in a safe space, where their concerns and real life stories will be heard and respected, creating a safer company culture for all.
No matter what your employees' backgrounds all have in common, in addition to professional development and networking events, diversity and inclusion activities are a great way to further unite your group members and invest in the employee experience. Need to come up with some DEI activities to encourage ERG team bonding? Check out our ERG events for your hybrid or remote teams below!
5 event ideas your virtual employee resource group will love ❣️
1. Assess your current DEI initiatives 🧐
ERGs can be the catalyst in bringing more diversity and inclusion accountability to the company culture. Since ERGs bring team members together in regular meetings where voices are heard, it's much easier for employees to report on areas where they feel the company could do more to uplift and protect those from diverse backgrounds.
Find an executive sponsor that can come into ERG meetings regularly and address concerns when they are raised. Perhaps there are opportunities for more inclusion and diversity activities, disability awareness training, or educational events that the whole company needs more of.
Why is this a great activity for an employee resource group? Allowing team members of your ERG to raise concerns over pain points in their company's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts makes everyone feel safer and respected in the workplace. This is especially necessary when working in remote teams.
How to get started 👉 Create an open space for discussion with DEI Conversations at Work!
2. Celebrate together 🥳
Your DEI activities for teams don't always have to be networking opportunities or corporate events for professional development. When there's an upcoming holiday or cultural event on the calendar, make employees feel valued with a party!
Find ways to honor the cultural diversity of your ERG by:
- Catering the event with a meal from a locally owned business that represents your group members. 🍽️
- Invite guest speakers from the community if you'd like to include some DEI efforts in your celebration. 👤
- Kicking back to play cultural mini games that can bring out the laughs and your entire team closer together while donating to charity. 🎲
Why is this a great activity for employee resource groups? It's important to give employees the space to have fun with colleagues! Want to make it an inclusive activity for the entire office? Invite your allies in the whole team to join, too!
How to get started 👉 No matter the occasion, find the best experience when you search ERG on our website!
3. Schedule Lunch and Learns 🍽
Food is one of the best ways to create lasting memories with those you care about. In days of co-working and virtual events, it's true that inclusion activities can still feel isolating.
You'd be surprised at how connecting it can be to make the same dish together from far away, despite the computer screen. Rather than buying your ERG pre-made identical lunches, hire a chef to lead your team through a guided cooking class, where your team can learn a dish together.
Why is this a great activity for employee resource groups? Cooking something new together is a great way to de-stress from the work day, while learning more about different cultures in a creative employee engagement activity!
Learn more 👉 Here are 5 Great Ideas for Your Office’s Next Lunch and Learn!
4. Volunteer together 🤝
ERGs can do a lot of good within the company's vision, they can expand that reach to the local community, too! At your next meeting, have a discussion with your leadership team about ways you can implement regular volunteering efforts into your DEI program.
Why is this a great activity for employee resource groups? Volunteering as a group is a great way to offer support to the community and find greater connections outside of the office.
How to get started 👉 Discuss an upcoming opportunity in your community that aligns with your ERG's mission, ask a team member to organize the event, and put the date on your diversity calendar today!
5. Gather for educational happy hour 🥂
Remember what we said about connecting with a shared recipe? Do the same with a cocktail recipe! You may not realize it, but there are special cocktails from all sorts of global cultures and different backgrounds. We know happy hours over Zoom can be such a snooze, especially after a long day of virtual meetings.
Instead of sitting around and making small talk over a beer, why not find a knowledgeable mixologist to teach your team how to make something a little more special?
Why is this a great activity for employee resource groups? Adding a hands-on, educational element to happy hour is a perfect way for your employee resource group to tap into their culture and make memories together.
How to get started 👉 Shake it up with a Juneteenth Mixology Class!
Bring your Employee Resource Group together with Confetti 🎉
Promote diversity and inclusive workplaces with Employee Resource Groups! When employees feel empowered to meet in smaller groups and connect over their shared qualities, it creates a ripple effect into the greater fabric of the company, fostering inclusive teams and promoting diversity for all.
Ready to book some virtual diversity team building activities for your ERG? Gather together with Confetti! 🎊
