Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups that help foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. These are typically led by employees who share a characteristic or common interest such as gender identity, ethnicity, religious affiliation, lifestyle, or interest. These ERGs serve to bolster diversity and inclusion in large companies.
ERG Group examples include:
- Professional Women in Tech ERG
- LGBTQ+ Pride ERG
- Millennial ERG
- Differently-abled ERG
- Latino ERG
- Neurodiverse ERG and more.
For those in the minority, or even marginalized in the larger society, these groups can be effective in helping promote connection and belonging in the workplace as long as they aren’t used simply for a “check-the-box” approach to the diversity goal. Companies that actually give these groups a budget and listen are what constitutes a healthy ERG work culture.
Belonging and connection are the key pillars of my mental health topics
That’s because it’s the foundation of any company wellness initiative. If you don’t have it, everything else you do is like building a castle on rice paper.
When I speak to company ERGs or corporations on a mental health topic like suicide prevention, DBT skills, grief, or anxiety, whether in person or virtual, it’s a more intimate experience because it’s so personal. Therefore I adopt and highlight what is relevant to the group also known as customizing because some canned presentation isn’t going to be an authentic experience.
For example, I have found that women’s groups often want tips to help themselves but also their children. Because if someone in the family isn’t doing well, it’s likely they are bringing that stress to work and it affects their productivity. In the case of an ERG of differently-abled individuals, I would focus on the belonging aspect since being or feeling marginalized is what drives feeling dysregulated.
No one feels better about being less useful
Overall that wrecks one’s sense of self. If you want a speaker who will be emotionally naked and offer hope and practical tips, click here to contact Anne Moss.
Or download the pdfs below to find out more. Overviews of workplace mental health and wellness programs are here.
See Mental Health Workplace Wellness Programs from Mental Health Awareness Education.
One sheet (2 sided pdf) on Anne Moss Rogers’ topics, bio, and reviews.
AnneMoss Rogers is a leading wellness and suicide education expert and one of the top mental health speakers and suicide prevention speakers. Known for her powerful, motivational keynotes, AnneMoss combines her personal story of loss with proven strategies to help organizations build a wellness culture that drives results and saves lives. She speaks at conferences, workplaces, K-12 schools, and universities, delivering impactful presentations that inspire change and promote mental health awareness.
AnneMoss does this work in memory of her son, Charles, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and died by suicide at age 20 in 2015.
Do you speak on anxiety? There is a lot of that at our company which tends to lead to other problems.
Yes. I can even do an anxiety workshop with teens or adults.