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View Full Version : Employee Resource Groups, Affinity Groups and Diversity Groups...



flatlander_48
01-25-2010, 03:28 PM
From time to time, we've had threads here about Employee Resource Groups, Affinity Groups, Diversity Groups or whatever these organizations are called at our workplaces. I wanted to follow up with that and see how things are going these days by putting up a series of questions...



Does your company, government agency or NFP organization have an LGBT-related Employee Resource Group, Affinity Group or Diversity Group?
If so, how long has it been in existence?
Are you a member?
If not, why not? Is there a particular issue that keeps you from joining?
Roughly how many members are there?
Of those, how many are active?
How many employees in your town or nationwide or worldwide​?
Is the organization LGBT only or are Allies welcome?
Is the organization for professionals only, hourly workers only or all inclusive?
Is the organization an officially recognized company ERG, AG, DG or …?
What does the group do?


Since I put up the questions, I'll go first...



Yes, we do.
Since 2000
Yes, 6 years
N/A
Going from memory, about 16 to 18 members.
It varies as many people in my company travel a lot, but roughly half.
Maybe 6000 to 8000 close by and about 25000 worldwide
LBGT and Allies
We are inclusive, but so far we have only one hourly person.
Yes, the group has official sanction and funding by the company.
Education, Outreach, Support and Social Activities

Education – similar to other ERG's, raise awareness for LGBT issues, try to gain company support for various legislative activities, create an annual event that focuses on a particular topic (e.g. Gays in the Military, transgenderism, marriage equality, etc.) and invite the general public
Outreach – doing presentations on the group and its activities at plant sites
Support – some of the more senior members get calls for help in dealing with LGBT-related issues at their work site
Social Activities – we usually have a Holiday and a Summer gathering each year for the group

DiannaRose
01-25-2010, 07:32 PM
I just discovered my company does have an LGBT Advocates group...but apparently it's not very active. I didn't join yet but I'm planning to (just no time today to explore it further).

sherri52
01-25-2010, 07:37 PM
I am the boss, the only employee, and the cheapest paid. The benefits are great though. I wear what I want, use the ladies room, and no one complains when I flirt with the customers.

flatlander_48
01-25-2010, 08:11 PM
I am the boss, the only employee, and the cheapest paid. The benefits are great though. I wear what I want, use the ladies room, and no one complains when I flirt with the customers.

Sign me up for the parallel universe!!! Alternatively, how do you get jobs like that?!?!?!?!


I just discovered my company does have an LGBT Advocates group...but apparently it's not very active. I didn't join yet but I'm planning to (just no time today to explore it further).

Curious that they are not very active. Wonder what happened?

Persephone
01-25-2010, 08:40 PM
I am the boss, the only employee, and the cheapest paid. The benefits are great though. I wear what I want, use the ladies room, and no one complains when I flirt with the customers.
Sign me up for the parallel universe!!! Alternatively, how do you get jobs like that?!?!?!?!

It's easy! You put your family and everything you own at risk, and then you bust your buns working 80 or more hours a week like Sherri probably does, and, if you are good at what you do, and really lucky, you get to be the boss!

I know, 'cause I did it. I wore corsets and heels and anything I wanted around the office (and guy's three piece suits everywhere else). I had a staff that pampered me and didn't mind (because my name was on their checks).

And here's what happens if you're really good at it and begin to be "successful." From the overwork and stress I eventually developed a terrific digestive disorder. A "benevolent" government took more and more of what I worked for so that they could "share" it with other people.

Eventually, I gave it all up and became a homemaker.

Funny thing, now I can wear whatever I want around my "office" and when I'm going nearly everywhere else!

Ooops! The phone just rang. It was my spouse getting ready to head home. Sorry, but I've got to go make dinner now!

Hugs,
Persephone.

DeeInGeorgia
01-27-2010, 11:05 PM
The company I work for is a site of a larger company that is a business unit of a large corporation. The local site has a Diversity Council, but is not a diversity council acting as a resource for the employee. Instead it's mission is to support the company's diversity position. I know because I am on this council.

I am also on a recently formed (Nov2008 approval). lgbt affinity group open to all site employees. We have about 16 members and the site employs about 6,000 employees. I am the president and co-founder of this group.

Deanna

flatlander_48
01-28-2010, 12:39 AM
The company I work for is a site of a larger company that is a business unit of a large corporation. The local site has a Diversity Council, but is not a diversity council acting as a resource for the employee. Instead it's mission is to support the company's diversity position. I know because I am on this council.

I am also on a recently formed (Nov2008 approval). lgbt affinity group open to all site employees. We have about 16 members and the site employs about 6,000 employees. I am the president and co-founder of this group.

Deanna

Hey, it's a start! What sort of things has the group done or is thinking about doing? Or, given what they are doing, what do you think the group should be doing?

When I put this thread up, I had 2 thoughts:


I went to Out & Equal for the first time this past October. It was quite an experience and it seems that it is almost always a good thing for folks to get together and share thoughts and aspirations and just make contact.
It's a way of helping to move all of us forward. Personally, when I see other people doing cool stuff, I think why am I (or we) not doing that? It becomes a "If they can do it, so can I." sort of thing.

Anyway, I don't have deeper purpose than this, so hopefully folks will drop by from time to time.

So, Good Luck to you!