The very goal of any employee resource group (ERG) is to help people feel included, whether it’s identities, interests, or causes they share or care about. And to feel included, people need to connect and engage. It’s simply human connections and experiences.
Just because an ERG exists doesn’t mean you can tick inclusion or belongingness off your list. Effective ERGs, where employees reported feeling included*, hinge on active participation, meaningful interactions, and continuous efforts.
In this post, you will find a list of ERG activities to kickstart – if you haven’t already – or to add to your existing ERG events calendar!
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in a Nutshell
Though we’ve already covered in greater detail what employee resource groups are, there is no harm in giving another quick rundown here!
At its core, employee resource groups, or ERGs in short, are groups or communities within an organization that are, more often than not, founded by employees who share identities or interests, such as:
- Demographic-based ERGs: Women, Men, Black/African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic, Native American/Indigenous, to name a few.
- Identity-based ERGs: LGBTQ+, Disabilities, Multicultural, Gender equality
- Role or situation-based ERGs: Parents/Caregivers, Working parents, Remote workers, Veterans
- Interest or value-based ERGs: Mental health, Faith-based, Environmental/Sustainability
Employee resource groups serve as a platform where employees can connect over shared experiences or interests with fellow group members, advocate for changes that improve their work environment, and contribute to a more supportive and inclusive work environment.
Both employees and employers can reap numerous benefits from employee resource groups. For employees, this might look like, say, working parents campaigning for more flexible work hours or better parental leave policies. For employers, business leaders can gain valuable insights into specific demographics, which can inform and improve market development strategies.
At the end of the day, employee resource groups provide a safe space for those who might otherwise feel isolated or marginalized to not only have a voice but also be seen, heard, and valued.
What Are ERG Activities?
Employee resource group activities are initiatives and events organized by ERG to create spaces where ERG members can interact, share their stories, and build meaningful relationships.
ERG activities can range from social events and professional development workshops to volunteer opportunities and discussion groups.
It’s worth noting that some ERG events can be open to all employees, not just the group members, such as sessions that aim to raise awareness and/or educate employees about specific issues, promote understanding, and encourage broader participation in diversity and inclusion efforts.
10 Best Employee Resource Group Activities
1. Networking events
Networking is one of the most popular activities in the professional world, and it’s for a reason.
Networking opportunities allow you to connect and build relationships with others. For example, informal gatherings like happy hours, coffee chats, and book clubs can help remove formal barriers and enable underrepresented employees to share opinions and thoughts with leadership. This can bypass the lengthy process of scheduling meetings, which might otherwise take weeks, if not months.
If you are looking for a more structured event, speed networking (yes, just like speed dating!) can be a fun and time-efficient way to facilitate connections among group members. Thanks to its structured nature and set amount of time, everyone has the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of people, making it easier to break the ice and quickly identify potential contacts or collaborators.
2. Professional development workshops
We all know professional development opportunities are essential for career advancement. Still, we can’t deny that not everyone has equal access to these opportunities. For example, the Pew Research Center found that more than a third of workers say that being a man makes it easier to be successful where they work.
Skill-building sessions can help employees develop and enhance their skills as well as their confidence in various professional settings. These sessions might look like:
- Building public speaking and presentation skills: Storytelling techniques, managing nerves, and tailoring messages for diverse audiences.
- How to navigate difficult conversations: Active listening, de-escalation techniques, and framing conversations for positive and realistic outcomes.
For more targeted, personalized support, consider providing career coaching and mentorship programs, as they can help employees navigate their career paths more effectively. (We will go into more detail later down the list!) These programs connect less experienced employees with more tenured ones who can offer insights, advice, and support tailored to individuals’ goals and challenges.
These professional development workshops not only strengthen employees’ skill sets but also open up new opportunities for growth and success in their career journey.
3. Cultural celebrations
Cultural events and celebration can serve as a platform for ERG to share their heritage, traditions, and values, and, at the same time, for other employees to learn about different cultures and build, or deepen, their understanding of their colleagues’ backgrounds and experiences.
This can include cultural and religious observances, such as Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, and Lunar New Year, as well as heritage months, such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and National Hispanic Heritage Month, for example.
Cultural events can also extend to less formal gatherings, such as potlucks and food days that showcase cuisines from around the world. These events not only offer a fun way to explore diverse flavors but also encourage casual, open conversations about cultural traditions and personal stories tied to the dishes.
4. Community service and volunteering
We, as humans, often feel most fulfilled when we contribute to a cause greater than ourselves. Similarly, employees experience deeper engagement and fulfillment when their work connects to a larger purpose. Volunteering activities allow ERG members to align their personal values with their professional lives and share those values with the broader community. For example:
- A women’s ERG might organize mentorship programs or career coaching sessions for young girls in local schools.
- An LGBTQIA+ ERG could volunteer with organizations supporting queer youth in their community.
- A multicultural ERG might participate in food drives for underprivileged communities.
Community service and volunteering not only give ERG members the opportunity to pay it forward and make a difference in causes they care deeply about, but these activities also provide avenues to develop and showcase leadership, project management, and organizational skills—both within and beyond the workplace.
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5. Health and wellness programs
A study shows workplace well-being can affect productivity and organizational performance. Health and wellness programs can help improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of ERG members, bringing employees together around shared goals and support networks.
For physical health, wellness challenges, like step counts or hydration goals, can motivate employees to adopt healthier habits, which are especially crucial for those who work in front of a monitor all day. Group fitness activities, such as team sports and workout classes, can also promote teamwork and camaraderie.
For mental and emotional health, lower-impact activities like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness workshops can help reduce stress and worries both around work and life. It’s equally important to address and reduce mental health stigma in the workplace. One way to do so is to create a truly safe space where everyone and anyone can share their experiences, discuss their challenges, and learn from one another.
🔍 If you want to dig deeper into the contentment, satisfaction, and overall well-being workers feel in their professional role, check out how to promote occupational wellness at work.
6. Educational events
This might be one of the most popular employee resource group event ideas yet! Educational events can help engage members, allies (those who choose to support an underrepresented group despite not belonging to that group themselves), and the larger community at work.
Educational events don’t necessarily have to always be formal training. It can look like “Lunch & Learn” on various topics that:
- Are of interest to group members, e.g., financial wellness, women in leadership, and neurodiversity in the workplace.
- Align with cultural celebrations, e.g., the history/origins of Pride Month, understanding Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and exploring Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Help build awareness to a broader audience within the organization, e.g., the power of inclusive language, unconscious bias, and how to be an ally.
These can either be in-person or virtual events, or both, to accommodate all participants.
Educational events not only help build employee skill sets and knowledge but also encourage critical thinking and sharing of knowledge and experiences, which are central to empowering employees to bring their whole selves to work.
7. Advocacy campaigns
Awareness alone is not going to bring about the actual change we want to see. That said, apart from educational and awareness-building sessions, it’s also important to advocate, take action, and hold those in power accountable for change.
For example, a Gender Equality ERG can campaign for and conduct an equal pay audit. Group members, along with allies, can work with HR to analyze salary data and identify pay gaps across gender, race, or other demographics.
ERG leaders can then advocate for corrective measures, such as salary adjustments and transparent pay structures. Share findings and progress with all employees to ensure leadership commitment. This ERG initiative combines awareness with actionable change.
8. Feedback and open forums
Not every initiative will hit a home run on the first try. That’s why feedback and open discussions are so important, as they allow employees to voice their experiences, concerns, and ideas without fear of judgment or retaliation.
Particularly for ERGs that often focus on underrepresented or marginalized groups, these sessions help highlight diverse viewpoints that might otherwise go unheard and inform company policies, initiatives, and cultural improvements.
As an example, an open forum with senior leadership can benefit:
- For employees: A chance to be heard, gain insight into leadership priorities, and feel valued.
- For senior leaders: Direct exposure to employees’ concerns and ideas, reinforcing their commitment to DEI.
- For the ERG: Strengthened group’s existence and credibility, and a clearer mandate to drive impactful changes.
9. Mentorship and sponsorship programs
If there’s one thing we at MentorcliQ love to talk about, it’s how everyone and anyone can benefit from mentoring. Indeed, 9 in 10 workers who have a career mentor say they are happy in their jobs*.
This can ring especially true when we consider what mentoring can do for underrepresented groups and their career advancement.
Catalyst, a global nonprofit that advocates for building workplaces that work for women, states: “Employees from marginalized racial and ethnic groups around the world encounter numerous structural and institutional barriers to inclusion in the workplace, including discrimination and biases in hiring, development opportunities, and performance assessments.”
Mentorship and sponsorship programs, as an integral part of employee resource groups, can provide ERG members with:
- Advice and guidance on career development, skill building, and personal growth.
- Sponsorship from senior leadership for visibility and career opportunities.
- Safe spaces where employees can discuss challenges related to their identity, career progression, or workplace dynamics.
To name a few. Oh, and we have explained in much greater detail how ERGs and mentoring can supercharge diversity, equity, and inclusion here!
10. Social and recreational activities
Last but not least, everyone deserves to let their hair down every now and again! Employees should have the chance to relax, have fun, and take a break from their usual responsibilities or stresses. Socials and recreational activities remind us that life shouldn’t always be about work, routines, or obligations—taking time to unwind is important for everyone’s well-being.
From team-building exercises and outings to happy hours and trivia nights, these socials can help build trust, break down hierarchical or departmental silos, and eventually foster a stronger sense of belonging at work. As group members participate in these activities, they connect on a personal level and reduce feelings of isolation, which can be especially valuable for new hires or employees who might not naturally interact in their daily roles.
Remember, ERG activities don’t always have to be educational or focused on raising awareness; they can simply be about having fun—and that’s just as impactful in building a vibrant, inclusive workplace culture.
Maximize ERG engagement with Diverst ERG Software by MentorcliQ
60% of workers say affinity groups or employee resource groups (ERGs) have had a positive impact at their workplace, according to the Pew Research Center. With the right tools, ERGs can be empowered to drive even greater impact.
Diverst ERG Software by MentorcliQ takes the guesswork out of managing ERG activities, streamlining communication, and tracking progress. Our platform provides ERG leaders with the data and insights needed to measure engagement, evaluate success, and refine initiatives over time.
Whether you are looking to launch new ERGs or scale existing ones, Diverst ERG Software by MentorcliQ offers tailored solutions to meet your organization’s unique needs. Book a demo today and see how we can help ensure your ERGs are not just active but transformative—building a workplace where every voice is heard, valued, and celebrated.
