How ERGs can be a ‘source of toxicity’ if poorly run

May 01, 2023

Employee resource groups, or ERGs, are now a staple at most workplaces. But if poorly run, they can have disastrous consequences, some diversity chiefs believe.

The earliest versions of ERGs sprung up in the 1960s when Black workers at Xerox organized to discuss race-based tension in the workplace and continue to be relevant today for issues like gender, identity, politics and more.

If run well, they can improve work conditions for alienated workers, bring employees together in a safe space, build camaraderie and more. A new report from charitable donation-management platform Benevity found that 90% of respondents say they have personally benefited from DE&I initiatives at work.