Why your employee resource groups need an offsite

Team culture

Jun 5

Team culture

Why your employee resource groups need an offsite

Riley Leight · 6/6/2023

People in a crop field jumping for a group photo.

Employee resource groups make a massive impact on organizations. Offsites and retreats can help them achieve even more for your team.

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are increasingly popular in modern workplaces. In essence, they are groups of like-minded employees who come together to support each other, discuss topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work towards a common goal: the betterment of their organization and community.

These groups have an important role in the building and sustaining of community ties within an organization. But being a leader or member of one can come with some challenges, particularly related to workload and burnout.

ERGs don’t typically get their own dedicated offsites or multi-day events, but we think they’re actually a perfect tool to help foster the health and effectiveness of these groups, thus benefitting your organization overall.

This post will cover:

What kind of impact ERGs have on an organization
The challenges ERG leaders and members face
How ERG offsites and events can transform your organization
Tips for how to plan your first ERG retreat or event
How to measure the success of your ERG offsite
Let’s get started!

The impact of employee resource groups

ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that are formed around a specific interest or identity, such as race, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation, age, skillset, geography, or philosophy. ERGs create a sense of community among members by sharing information, organizing events, and offering support and resources that members can access.

ERGs generate insights on how to improve workplace culture for the betterment of everyone. In doing so, they help employees feel they are part of an organization where they are heard, understood, and appreciated.

These factors make them an incredibly important way to support diversity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging within the workplace. They offer numerous benefits to both employees and organizations, including increased innovation and creativity, leadership development, talent attraction, and much more.

ERGs can also help to develop leadership skills among employees. By taking on leadership roles within the group, employees can develop skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. These skills translate outside of the ERG settings into the rest of an employee’s work life and career, providing value for both the individual and the organization.

The challenges faced by ERG members and leaders

Leading an employee resource group comes with its fair share of challenges. While ERGs are incredible for promoting inclusivity and supporting underrepresented communities, participating in or leading one can often come with a lot of responsibility and potential challenges.

Here’s a more detailed look at some of these challenges.

Time commitment

Leading an ERG can be time-consuming and exhausting. Between organizing events, coordinating initiatives, and engaging with members, it can feel like a second full-time job. Balancing all these responsibilities with regular job duties can be demanding, and doing so often does not come with additional compensation.

Limited resources

ERGs often operate on a tight budget. Getting funding for events, initiatives, or professional development opportunities can be tough. Members often need to get creative and find ways to make the most of their resources. While trying to create a positive environment for members, ERG leaders often also juggle the needs and interests of senior leadership and the organization as a whole. Competing priorities make resource allocation even more challenging.

Resistance and organizational dynamics

Unfortunately, some colleagues and leaders can be skeptical or resistant to the idea of an ERG or the changes it advocates for. It's often up to members and leaders to address those concerns, debunk any misconceptions, and show the value and impact of the group.

Navigating these dynamics often involves collaborating with different stakeholders like human resources, executive leadership, or other departments to get support, advocate for change, and align efforts with the overall goals of the organization.

The importance of offsites and retreats for ERGs

Offsite events are an excellent way to promote and build your ERGs. They provide a space where members can focus on their goals without distraction, build lasting connections, and develop strategies to overcome the challenges they face.

These events could take the form of:

Giving each ERG an event budget to create a custom experience for their members
An offsite where multiple ERGs come together for a time of team bonding and brainstorming for organizational improvements
A leadership retreat where executives sit down with ERG leaders to hear concerns and create strategies
A wellness or educational experience where employees can learn about mental health and inclusion

No matter how the event itself takes shape, there are numerous benefits to employees and your organization overall. Let’s walk through a few.

Providing an opportunity to recharge and get inspired

One of the most important benefits of an offsite is simply giving employees a change from their day-to-day stresses and responsibilities.

By entering a new environment and having new experiences together, you can hit the metaphorical reset button on your workplace. ERG leaders and members will have the opportunity to unwind and become inspired about their work again, helping ease burnout and make sure your work culture is healthy and strong for the long term.

Making your teams and organization more inclusive

Offsite events are a great way to build team dynamics and morale in a relaxed atmosphere. Members will have the opportunity to connect better and feel more comfortable sharing ideas that they may not have voiced before.

For instance, if an ERG for women in tech hosts an offsite event, members can come together to discuss their experiences in the industry, share struggles, and brainstorm ways to implement improvements. Similarly, an ERG for LGBTQ+ employees could host a retreat where members discuss living in a culture where their rights are being put at risk and how their workplace can best support them and their families.

By bringing to light important concerns, these conversations can radically transform your organization’s ability to be inclusive and supportive of employees. Over Zoom, these kinds of serious and insightful discussions are simply much more difficult.

Fostering creativity and innovation

Offsite events provide a conducive environment for creativity and innovation. With members away from their daily routines, they can delve into brainstorming sessions, develop creative ideas, and find solutions that they would not have considered in their typical work environment.

This can be especially powerful for ERGs related to sustainability or wellness within your organization. By taking a break from their usual work environment, members can come up with innovative and creative solutions that they may not have thought of in their daily routine.

Planning the perfect ERG offsite

Thoughtful planning is critical to the success of any ERG offsite. By taking a strategic approach, you can ensure that members feel included and valued.

Setting clear objectives

Before planning the offsite, it's essential to identify the objectives you want to achieve. Examples could be improving communication among members or creating an action plan for DEI initiatives.

Setting clear objectives will help you stay focused and ensure that members understand the purpose of the offsite. When everyone is on the same page, you’re much more likely to be successful

Choosing the right location and activities

The location and activities chosen for the offsite should align with your objectives. The location should be comfortable, accommodating, and feel like a fun getaway. Austin is an ever-popular choice for offsites, but there are plenty of destinations worth exploring.

When selecting activities, consider your members' interests and goals. You could include workshops, team-building exercises, and guest speakers. A pre-event survey can make your picks much easier!

Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility

It’s essential that your offsite is inclusive and accessible to all members. Consider members with disabilities and those who face social barriers and ensure that the activities provided will not leave them feeling excluded.

It's also important to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. Encourage members to share their experiences and perspectives, and ensure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard.

Measuring the success of your ERG offsite

By measuring your success, you can start to understand how an event really impacts your organization—and make each one better than the last.

Collect and evaluate participant feedback

Participant feedback is an excellent way to gauge the success of your offsite. You can gather feedback through surveys, focus groups, and informal discussions. Feedback will help you understand what worked and what didn't, identify areas for improvement, and build upon your success.

Tracking progress towards objectives

Tracking progress towards your objectives will help you understand the impact of your offsite on your organization. You can measure progress through metrics such as employee turnover rates, workplace diversity and inclusion scores, and employee engagement scores.

Assessing long-term impact on the ERG and organization

Assessing the long-term impact of your offsite is essential in measuring its overall success. You should evaluate your offsite's impact on your ERG's goals and identify the lessons you can learn to improve future offsite events.

Start planning your first ERG offsite

An offsite or retreat for an employee resource group can be immensely beneficial for its members and your organization overall. It provides a valuable opportunity for members to build relationships, foster a sense of community, and address any challenges.

After reading this post, we hope you see the value of offsites for ERGs—and are on your way to planning an incredible and inclusive event.