Once your ERG programming is established in Employee Groups, how do you keep momentum and continue to grow engagement? Engagement looks different for everyone—some members prefer attending events, while others may want to consume resources on their own time. The most successful ERG programs offer multiple ways for employees to participate. Here are some key strategies to ensure your ERG program thrives:
Involve more people
Expanding participation is essential for fostering a sense of belonging. Consider these approaches:
- Diversify ERG Offerings: In addition to formal ERGs focused on underrepresented groups, introduce affinity or interest groups. These provide opportunities for employees to connect around shared interests, strengthening workplace relationships and retention.
- Encourage ERG Collaboration: Partner ERGs for joint initiatives. For example, a Yoga Interest Group could collaborate with a Black Employee Network to host a class in a Black-owned studio.
- Define Leadership Involvement: Senior leaders can play a powerful role in encouraging participation. Establish clear expectations for how executives should engage—whether through direct involvement, event sponsorship, or company-wide communications.
- Invite External Participants: If an ERG hosts a guest speaker, consider extending invitations to clients or external stakeholders to broaden impact and visibility.
Spread the Word
Ensuring employees are aware of ERG opportunities is crucial for participation.
- Leverage Internal Communication Channels: Work with your internal communications team to include ERG events on company-wide calendars and newsletters. Save examples of great content in your Employee Groups site when you see it to be able to refer back to it easily.
- Showcase ERG Impact: Collaborate with your corporate marketing team to highlight ERG success stories, which can also serve as a great recruiting tool.
- Introduce ERGs During Onboarding: Introduce your Employe Groups site and ERGs as part of your new-hire experience to integrate employees early.
- Use Public & Private Groups: Public groups can be used for event promotions and broader engagement, while private chapters or groups can provide safe discussion areas for identifying ERG members.
Suggestions for reaching “deskless” employees:
- Post ERG information on lunchroom TVs and bulletin boards.
- Include ERG updates in corporate and regional newsletters.
- Provide shared workstations for employees to access Employee Groups and ERG content.
- Highlight the mobile-friendly capabilities of your Employee Groups site
- Encourage local leadership to generate some buzz around your ERG program
- Support ERG Leaders who may wish to connect in-person with deskless employees
Compensate or Incentivize Participation
Recognizing and rewarding ERG contributions can drive sustained engagement:
- Offer Paid Time for ERG Involvement: Establish clear guidelines on how much time employees can dedicate to ERGs within working hours.
- Provide Stipends or Reimbursements: Support (or reward) attendance at ERG-related events or training sessions.
- Use Incentives to Build Momentum: Consider offering prizes, such as gift cards supporting the ERG’s community, to encourage participation in the early stages of an ERG’s life.
Engaging a Global Population
For organizations with geographically distributed teams, it’s important to ensure ERG programming is inclusive and accessible worldwide.
- Adapt Strategies for Different Regions: ERG programming should be culturally relevant and resonate with employees in different locations.
- Appoint Regional ERG Leads: Identify champions in various regions to facilitate local engagement.
- Host Virtual & Hybrid Events: Schedule events in multiple time zones, mix pre-recorded and live sessions, and incorporate asynchronous activities like AMAs (Ask Me Anything) or Q&A sessions
- Record & Share Events: Make recordings available when possible so employees can engage on their own time and link them in your Employee Groups site’s resources.
Sustain Engagement Over Time
As your ERG program evolves, continuous engagement is key to long-term success.
- Survey Members Regularly: Gather feedback using surveys in your Employee Groups site to ensure ERG initiatives align with employees’ evolving interests and needs.
- Encourage Leadership Advocacy: Secure ongoing support from senior leaders to normalize and encourage participation.
- Celebrate Milestones & Successes: Recognize the achievements of ERGs through blog posts in your Employee Groups site, company-wide updates, appreciation events, or annual impact reports.
By actively involving employees, tailoring engagement strategies, and leveraging leadership support, your ERGs can remain dynamic and impactful. With thoughtful planning and innovation, you can create an ERG program that fosters lasting inclusion, belonging, and community.