Affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups (ERGs), bring together employees with similar backgrounds or interests and can have a powerful influence in the workplace . Employers that have, or are exploring establishing, affinity groups, though, must consider several legal and practical issues.
What do affinity groups do?
During affinity groups participants might share and talk about their experiences or focus on working towards a particular mission or goal . Who can be part of an affinity group? Only people who identify with that particular group can be a part of it.
What counts as an affinity group?
Examples of affinity groups include women in the workplace, working parents, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) matters , and any other group based on a common set of interests. Private employers are not required by federal law to have workplace affinity groups.
What are affinity groups and why are they important?
Affinity groups are gathering opportunities for people who share a common identity . Affinity groups provide opportunities for people to connect with other people who share aspects of their identity, especially in situations in which aspects of their identity are in the minority or are marginalized.
Are affinity groups illegal?
Because affinity groups are often based on protected characteris- tics such as race, sex, age, or disability, employers must proceed with caution. Dealing with affinity groups brings an inherent risk of violat- ing laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of protected charac- teristics.
How do you create affinity group at work?
- Set a clear goal. ...
- Identify your supporters. ...
- Pitch your group. ...
- Use your resources to your advantage. ...
- Structure your meetings. ...
- Decide who will do what.
How do you facilitate an affinity group?
Say your name and why you decided to take part in this affinity group. Introduce yourself as the facilitator . Explain that your job is to help the group members have a rich conversation and make room for all voices. Make it clear that you will not share personal views and stories, or try to push an agenda.
What makes a good affinity group?
A really successful affinity group considers how their work can benefit everyone in the organization , make their company a better place to work for future employees, and boost the company’s direction and success.
What is a women’s affinity group?
Affinity groups are an integral part of creating an inclusive work environment. These forums offer individuals with similar backgrounds and experiences an opportunity to socialize and share ideas and interests outside their daily practice groups.
Why affinity spaces are important?
Carving out a space where students can gather with others who look like them and share similar backgrounds can foster a sense of safety and belonging, and, far from sequestering them, can actually increase Black student engagement in the wider campus community. ...
Why are student affinity groups important?
Affinity groups help students develop healthy self-identity and build networks both within and beyond the group through sharing experiences and strategies . We help all students understand the definition of affinity and that having these groups is not an act of intentional exclusion.
What is azure affinity group?
An affinity group is a ‘group of nodes’ in the same data center . ... By creating an affinity group, one can group hosting services like cloud services and storage together in the same data center, which reduces network latency and increases the performance of application.
Are affinity groups helpful?
Affinity groups can help employers attract more diverse candidates , reduce turnover and increase employee morale. Moreover, multiple studies have found that companies are likely to have above-average financial returns if they fall among the top quartile of their peers for diversity by race, ethnicity and gender.
What is a black affinity group?
The mission of the Black Affinity Group at the University of Texas at El Paso is to provide effective leadership and promote the well-being and success of Black faculty, staff and students , while advocating for full equity, recognition, inclusion, and emancipation of our community members.
How often do affinity groups meet?
A: Parent and guardian affinity groups will meet approximately four times a year .
How do I start a female group at work?
- Set the focus for your Women’s Networking Group. ...
- Give structure to the Women’s Network from the start. ...
- Target buy-in from your senior leaders. ...
- Position the Women’s Network correctly. ...
- Bring in the right mix of skills. ...
- Get the Women’s Network noticed.
