Why Employee Resource Groups (ERG) are Important: ISO 30415: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Bhavya Mangla
Quality Champion | CXO Leadership 2023 | Writer | YouTuber | Toastmaster
“Diversity: The art of thinking independently together.”: Malcolm Forbes
Introduction
In today’s age, we live busy lives, trying to strike a balance between work, school, hobbies, self-care and more. Often, our social connections fall by the wayside. But connecting with others is more important than you might think. Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and improve our immune systems. By neglecting our need to connect, we put our health at risk.
Read More: https://bit.ly/DEIClause4
Content: ERG Group: ISO 30415: 2021: DEI
Objective
As per ISO 30415: 2021 standard, developing an inclusive workplace requires an ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) to address inequalities in organizational systems, policies, processes and practices, as well as people’s conscious and unconscious biases and behaviours.
As workplace diversity and inclusion programs are becoming more prevalent, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are gaining in popularity.?Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve.?
Once you go through the article, you will understand the meaning of ERG, its purpose, the importance of ERG and how an organization can effectively implement it.
Read More: https://bit.ly/DiversityEquityEnclusion
Definition: ISO 30415: 2021
Bias (3.5): Tendency, inclination or opinion that is preconceived or unreasoned that hinders impartial judgment.
Diversity (3.7): Characteristics of differences and similarities between people. Diversity includes factors that influence the identities and perspectives that people bring when interacting at work.
Employee Resource Group- ERG (3.8): People with shared demographic and other diversity dimensions, and their allies. An ERG generally consists of people who join together in a network to share experiences and beliefs, and to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Equality (3.9): State of being equal, especially in status, rights, opportunities or outcomes.
Equity (3.10): Principle that policies, processes and practices should be fairly applied and individual needs recognized.
Fairness (3.11): The principle that everyone should be subject to procedures that are equitable and as far as possible free from systematic bias.
Inclusion (3.12): Practice of including all stakeholders in organizational contexts.
Voice (3.19): The way people communicate their views and influence matters that affect them.
Read More: https://bit.ly/DifferenceEquityEquality
Detailed Information
As per the recent study by Harvard Business Review, companies with an above-average total diversity (meaning migration, industry, career path, gender, education and age diversity), had 19% higher innovation revenues and 9% higher EBIT margins.?Yet only 40% of employees agree?that their manager fosters an inclusive environment!
The studies show a strong correlative relationship between business performance and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). Organizations that have greater access to talent and increased employee engagement contribute to this performance effect. When the organization’s top management starts looking at DEI as a business case, the implementation will increase in a real sense.
The standard is relevant to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Read More: https://bit.ly/DiffDiversityInclusion
An Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a voluntary, employee-led diversity and inclusion initiative that is formally supported by an organization.?Organizations use many naming conventions to refer to ERGs, such as business resource groups, affinity groups, inclusion resource groups or network groups.
领英推荐
These groups can offer a psychologically safe space for discussion, solidarity and support, in which employees can feel free to self-identify and be their authentic selves. Many large companies have ERG programs including Uber, Salesforce, Amazon, and Google.
Purpose of ERG
The main goal of ERG is to advocate for the underrepresented group they represent and help increase the opportunities they get within the workplace.
Why are Employee Resource Groups Important?
When ERGs are ineffective, employees feel excluded. We know that that innovation?can only flourish when employees feel safe bringing their whole selves to work. ERGs build high-trust relationships that help companies flourish.?The groups foster a sense of belonging and inspire conversation, bring new ways to look at issues and drive innovation.
Many executives at companies with ERGs find that they're a critical resource for gaining deeper insights. When there are gaps in experiences, leaders often turn to ERGs to ensure that everyone, regardless of role or demographic, can succeed.
How to Start ERG?
ERGs are typically developed based on shared identities or experiences. Below is the list of ERGs that typically form in organizations:
Some of the possible ways to initiate the process of forming ERG are as follows:
How Do ERGs Benefit Organizations?
By supporting ERGs, companies can foster a diverse, inclusive work environment and cultivate a culture of allyship. Working with these groups can help companies:
Read More: https://bit.ly/DEIPDCA
Conclusion:
In conclusion, with the help of ERGs, companies can put a greater focus on employee belonging and support. Long term, this kind of investment offers big rewards in terms of both employee well-being and organizational success.
Read More: https://bit.ly/ISO19011-2018Auditing
References:
ISO 30415: 2021
ISO 30408: 2016: HRM: Guidelines on Human Governance
ISO 30400: 2022: HRM: Vocabulary
Industry Experts
This is the 203rd article of this Quality Management series. Every weekend, you will find useful information that will make your Management System journey Productive. Please share it with your colleagues too.
In the words of Albert Einstein, “The important thing is never to stop questioning.” I invite you to ask anything about the above subject. Questions and answers are the lifeblood of learning, and we are all learning. I will answer all questions to the best of my ability and promise to keep personal information confidential.
Your genuine feedback and response are extremely valuable. Please suggest topics for the coming weeks.
Quality Champion | CXO Leadership 2023 | Writer | YouTuber | Toastmaster
9 个月You can learn more about it in HINDI by clicking the blue link https://youtu.be/9N1dwB8Nlbc
Great insights on the importance of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in promoting diversity and inclusion within organizations!
Quality Champion | CXO Leadership 2023 | Writer | YouTuber | Toastmaster
10 个月You can learn more about it by clicking the blue link https://youtu.be/sOcA4rS6sxc