Henrico Times

Meet Our Employee Resource Groups

Elephant is excited to introduce our Employee Resource Groups! Over the past several years, employees of the Herd have come together to create and cultivate different ERGs within the business. Each of our ERGs emerged out of the employees organizing to facilitate important conversations, to educate, and to provide resources, training, and support to all staff.

What are employee resource groups?

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are sometimes called affinity groups, business resource groups, or professional development groups. Simply put, they are voluntary employee-led groups consisting of individuals in the company who join together based on common interest, backgrounds, or demographic factors such as gender, race, or ethnicity.

What are the benefits of employee resource groups?

ERGs aren’t a new concept.  In the 1980 hit 9 to 5, Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s characters worked together to implement changes in the workplace such as flexible schedules and job sharing (their methods weren’t exactly legal, their hearts were in the right place).

So much has changed over the last few years, and work culture is no exception. Many of us went from in-office employees to working from home and being caretakers all in a matter of weeks. Once the dust finally settled, we learned that we have resources available to help support the various needs of the staff.

There have been several studies showing the various benefits of employee resource groups within a business. From gaining visibility by connecting employees with leaders, to promoting understanding of different cultures, employee resource groups can be used to communicate concerns and advocate for change to company leaders more effectively.

What do employee resource groups do?

At Elephant, any member of the Herd can participate in any of our ERGs or any of their sponsored events. ERGs are meant to be inclusive spaces open to all staff and their families. These groups encourage growth, understanding, compassion and empathy.

Our ERGs, individually and cooperatively encourage talent, engagement, development, and retention by offering resources and developmental opportunities. In our commitment to growth at all levels, our ERGs aim to help employees feel more engaged knowing that Elephant is invested in their future.

ERGs at Elephant provide resources to our leadership regarding diversity of staff and community issues by allowing a safe platform for staff to express their needs and experiences. ERG members are part of a diverse workforce who are committed to a safe and inclusive workplace.

ERG members often facilitate meetings with company leadership, human resources, and employees to provide support, build a strong community, increase cultural awareness, provide a safe space for all staff.

Studies show that key benefits of companies with active employee resource groups aimed to empower employees that have organizational support and executive sponsorship have higher employee satisfaction and increased employee engagement.

ERGs at Elephant

Elephant currently has 3 employee resource groups, Staff ID, ROSIE and Parents of the Herd.

An ongoing goal at Elephant is to allow everyone to be their authentic selves at work, and to cultivate an environment where each member of the Herd has the skills and opportunities to reach their highest potential. We believe our company is better when it includes diverse perspectives, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are core company values.

The Staff ID Council is an employee resource group within Elephant that embraces DE&I within the company by acknowledging, celebrating, and educating ourselves about our differences. We support the Herd by giving each voice a platform, and we offer resources that staff need to succeed professionally and personally. Staff ID has cultivated an inclusive environment which advocates for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that supports each individual member of the Herd.

Founded and organized by a diverse group of women within Elephant, ROSIE (Reaching Out to Support, Inspire, and Empower) is a employee resource group within Elephant focused on the mission of supporting and empowering one another’s personal and professional growth. Aimed at encouraging women to apply for roles in leadership and supporting current female leaders, ROSIE hosts monthly symposiums, facilitates coffee chats between employees and senior leaders to share knowledge, and sponsors workshops led by leaders focused on sharpening professional skills.

While ROSIE was founded to support and encourage women, everyone is welcome to attend ROSIE events, with the spirit that more voices = better solutions.

Elephant understands that balancing professional demands with personal responsibilities can be a challenge, especially for those who have or are planning to have children, or who are caretakers in any capacity. Parents and caretakers often feel additional pressure to balance work and home life.

Parents of the Herd organization is an employee resource group whose mission is to support and improve working conditions for the working parent and caretaker. The group is redefining work-life balance by offering networking opportunities, fostering an open dialogue around relevant issues, and raising awareness about available resources to parents and caretakers. By providing flexibility and support, Parents of the Herd aims to alleviate some of the stress of being a working parent or caretaker.

 

As Elephant continues to grow, we are learning that embracing diversity and providing resources and opportunities to members of the Herd is not a destination, but a journey. We are committed to supporting all members of the Herd, and we are looking forward to what’s to come for both our current and future ERGs.

Original source can be found here