The Power of Employee Resource Groups

This is the first authoritative book on building employee resource groups (ERGs) to empower underrepresented employees and positively impact DEI efforts within organizations and in society at large. Originating out of affirmative action policies, employee resource groups have evolved into powerful sources of employee activity and engagement that organizations have leveraged to support business goals. But ERGs can play a critical role in creating a more inclusive and just world while serving company interests. This book focuses on both how to manage ERGs effectively and why organizations should pay close attention to these groups as a source for innovation, belonging, feedback, and direction on tough issues and new company initiatives. It was Black and female ERG leaders who surfaced DEI problems at Uber and Google, and Asian ERGs helped Coca-Cola roll out a supply chain change to convenience store owners. Participating in an ERG could also help professionals of color advance their careers and increase diverse representation in leadership. Farzana Nayani provides foundational tools for starting ERGs and outlines the 5 Ps--purpose, people, processes, planning, and priorities--needed to successfully operate them. Unlike other ERG handbooks, this book is people-centric and socially conscious instead of being purely technical or existing in a vacuum. It also serves as a deeper call to action around how, with more effective ERGs, we can truly progress toward the DEI goals that we are all setting out to accomplish--