Employee resource groups (ERG) are voluntary, employee-led groups that serve as a resource for employees and their employers. ERGs foster diverse, inclusive work environments that align with the organization’s mission, values, goals, objectives, and business practices.

“Employee Resource Groups are where people go to share their uniqueness and feel like they belong,” explains Krista Brookman, VP of the inclusive leadership initiative at Catalyst. An employee-caregiver resource group engages and connects group members and leaders across departments, companies, industries, and locations to share ideas and best practices.

An ERG of caregivers benefits the workers and the workplace. Employee-caregivers frequently have feelings of shame, isolation, and feeling different and excluded. However, with ERGs, the group fosters inclusion in the workplace.

A successful ERG should fill the needs of the employee-caregivers, their team, team leaders, and the organization as a whole. Here are some musts for success:

• Start Small – Start with a general meeting to explain that management supports employees with caregiving responsibilities. Then, invite anyone (not just caregivers) to attend an informational meeting (virtual or in-person) to learn more. 
• Offer Virtual Coffee Chats – One of the biggest challenges employee-caregivers have is time. Offer a virtual coffee chat option with senior leaders, so the community builds a culture of inclusion.
• Quarterly Tips – Members host quarterly tips sessions to help others with tools or resources necessary for successfully balancing a career and caring for family members.

Employers find ERGs help with:

• Culture – ERGs help improve the culture by building a community of caregivers working together to overcome their common challenges 
• Retention – When a company’s culture allows for flexible work arrangements and supports care activities on the job (such as with a CareWise Solutions Caring Place), it is more likely to retain top talent. This reduces the cost of transitions and onboarding/hiring.
• Recruitment – Millennials expect more work flexibility than any other generation. Yet, many employee-caregivers are at the peak of their careers, in their 50s. A company’s ERG and flexible work policies can be harnessed to differentiate the company to attract talent in a shrinking labor market.