ERGs are an important way to support your employees both personally and professionally. These communities can be especially crucial for underrepresented talent. Which is why it’s so essential to offer a people of color employee resource group, or even several.
Being seen and heard through an ERG can make employees feel like a valued part of your organization. It also expands their opportunities for skills development and networking.
For businesses that are remote, having a people of color employee resource group can play a particularly significant role in forming career-changing connections, bridging gaps between locations, and connecting employees from similar races and cultures. These relationships are more important than ever in an increasingly polarized world.
Beyond that, younger generations are growing more and more diverse. Roughly 48% of Gen Z identifies as non-white, compared to 75% of Baby Boomers. Businesses need to take this into account.
They must consider ways to support every employee to succeed at work and overcome the challenges unique to them. A people of color employee resource group can help do just that.
Benefits of a people of color employee resource group
So, what are the benefits of setting up a people of color employee resource group? This includes one or more groups designed to support Black, Indigenous, or other underrepresented talent within your business. The answer goes far beyond socializing:
Higher profitability
More diverse companies make more money. In fact, they have 2.5x the cash flow per employee.
That’s a huge difference that comes from the increased engagement and innovation that diverse teams bring. It can make a massive impact on a business’s ability to succeed.
More innovation
When employees are all from the same background, it can quickly lead to groupthink and an inability to see things differently or suggest alternative ways of doing things. As a result, it’s harder to come up with creative solutions and product innovations to outperform your competitors.
Including employees from different cultures, races, and backgrounds in the conversation prevents an echo chamber from forming.
It not only fosters empathy among employees, but also allows them to see how people from other backgrounds live, work, and experience situations. Meaning they can consider how to make a product or service work for people from other backgrounds too. And therefore attract more customers.
Even if every team doesn’t have a strong mix of different employees, having a people of color employee resource group means there’s a always a brain trust they can turn to for a broader perspective.
Increased employee engagement
More diverse companies are happier and more welcoming. People feel more able to be themselves, so then they don’t waste energy hiding parts of who they are. They can just get on with their jobs.
They also feel appreciated at work and so put more effort in because they’re a part of the team. Not someone who’s just there to go through the motions.
A people of color employee resource group ensures your team members have a true place to feel at home within your organization.
Attract better candidates
When your company is racially and culturally diverse, people see the impact that this has on your organization.
They also see themselves represented in your teams, which makes them believe they’ll be welcomed.
Knowing they’ll have a community from day one in your people of color employee resource group can encourage more job-seekers to apply.
Appeal to the next generation
As mentioned in the introduction, almost half of Gen Z identifies as non-white. Millennials, meanwhile, are 19% more diverse than Baby Boomers.
So if you want to maintain a culture of innovation within your organization, supporting those who identify as people of color is pivotal. Otherwise, as Boomers age out of the workforce, you’re not going to attract the next generation into your business.
Boost employee career progression for everyone
When employees are supported by someone who’s faced the same challenges, they’re far more likely to succeed. Instead of trying to forge a path of their own without any support, they have one already mapped out to help them navigate. A lack of support can leave people with no idea where they want to go next, stalling their careers and potential to develop alongside your business.
For mentors, teaching is one of the best ways to learn. In addition to teaching them new leadership skills, it helps reinforce what they already know, cementing their knowledge.
A people of color employee resource group gives team members access to those who have gone before them, and gives the trailblazers a chance to make sure those channels stay open.
People of color employee resource group initiative ideas
Here are some employee initiatives that can help you get the most from your people of color employee resource group:
Mentoring
Mentoring is one of the most powerful ways to support employee career development. Mentees get to learn from someone who’s been there. Which means they don’t waste time on the same pitfalls.
Different employees will face different barriers. For example, the microaggressions a Black female employee faces in the workplace will be different from what a white female employee experiences.
Having mentors from the same racial or cultural background can help people deal with challenging scenarios. It gives them the strength and confidence to handle setbacks that can be harder to face when someone feels like they’re navigating things alone.
Product feedback
When it’s time to work on a new product, or update an old one, who do you involve in the decision making?
Your people of color employee resource group can play a huge role in helping you avoid an echo chamber forming. It’s a community of active employees who want to grow in their careers, network with colleagues, and share their insights. They could very well come up with your next great innovation or initiative.
Networking opportunities
If you’re serious about breaking down barriers and helping employees grow, why not organize networking opportunities for members of your people of color employee resource group?
This could involve speakers who can discuss relevant topics and opportunities to network with their colleagues before or after the talk.
If you wanted to further expand their exposure, you could open it up to people from beyond your organization. This could help with future recruitment opportunities too by feeding your talent pipeline and clearly demonstrating your company culture to the outside world.
Conclusion
Supporting your employees from different racial and cultural backgrounds with a people of color employee resource group boosts their career progression options while helping your business grow and become more profitable.
You can innovate faster and more effectively, while employees feel happier and more engaged because they’re valued and supported at work.
Grow your groups
Want help growing your people of color employee resource group? Workrowd can help you manage your employee groups so that you, and your team, get more from them.
Keep everything in one place so that employees can find information easily and get the support they need via their personalized dashboards. Plus, track your progress with our real-time analytics. Get in touch today to find out more and book your free demo.
