As part of our commitment to employee well-being and development, Rubicon encourages staff to connect with and support one another in meaningful ways. One avenue through which employees can create and strengthen connections at Rubicon is Employee Resource Groups, or ERGs.
Vanessa Ramos, Institutional Giving Manager for Rubicon Programs, joined an ERG almost immediately after she started working at the organization. “I joined the LGBTQ+ ERG in hopes to network and socialize with other like-minded individuals who share similar identities in order to create positive change,” Ramos says. “Being a part of an ERG is exciting because of the opportunity we have to raise awareness and educate our peers about social issues. By coming together as one ERG body we can have a powerful influence in the workplace.”
ERGs are “voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve.” Xerox is credited with having the first ERG, the National Black Employee Caucus, which began in 1970; Hewlett Packard formed the first LGBTQIA+ ERG in 1978. Nationally, most organizations structure their ERGs by demographics, job function, or life stages.
Rubicon’s first ERGs formed in 2017, with the Black Rubies and the Aspiring Allies becoming the first official groups. Since then, four more ERGs have been created to give diverse groups of Rubicon staff a place to center their experiences. In total, the six ERGs at Rubicon and the experiences they center are:
- Black Rubies – Black and African American staff
- Aspiring Allies – white staff who strive for allyship with those whose identities are less privileged
- LGBTQIA++ – LGBTQIA+ staff
- Prim@s – (pronounces “primos”) Latinx staff
- Womxn’s Sisterhood – staff who identify as women
- AANHPI – Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander staff
CaT Bobino, Financial Coach for Rubicon Programs, believes it is important to provide a space for people of similar identity groups to come together and share their experiences, which she does as a member of the Black Rubies. “Over the years, Black people around the world have seen tragedies and triumphs,” Bobino says. “The Black Rubies is a place to have open discussions about our feelings, thoughts, and desires regarding what is happening to our people.”
The purpose of ERGs can be broad and is largely defined by the ERG members themselves. Some benefits that ERGs bring to individuals and organizations include:
- Networking and mentorship opportunities for employees who might not otherwise meet or work together
- Safe spaces to discuss concerns that directly affect ERG group members
- Improved retention, engagement, and job satisfaction rates when ERG members feel like their voices are heard
- Opportunities to influence organizational culture and practice
- Social connections with coworkers of similar interests or backgrounds
In addition to joining existing ERGs, Rubicon staff are encouraged to form new ERGs if they believe there is an unmet need for staff of a particular identity group. The newest ERG at Rubicon, the AANHPI ERG, was formed last month for this very reason. As Rubicon continues to grow, we’ll welcome the formation of more ERGs that center and uplift the experiences of our diverse staff.