Individual outcomes of employee resource group membership
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 31 May 2022
Issue publication date: 2 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This article illustrates the experiences of employee resource group (ERG) members over a two-year period with the aim of understanding the benefits and risks of membership for sexual minority employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interview data were collected from seven lesbian, gay or bisexual ERG members following an extreme case approach at two points in time separated by two years.
Findings
Three themes of outcomes related to ERG membership emerged from the data. Participants reported both benefits and risks associated with the social and career-related consequences of membership. The role that allies play in providing visibility, legitimacy and support to ERG members also emerged and shifted in importance over the two years between interviews, with ally involvement becoming more important to career outcomes over time.
Practical implications
This study illuminates potential consequences of supporting ERGs for minority employees, as well as insight into the role of allies in these groups.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by revealing several individual outcomes of a growing form of diversity management practice: ERGs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author thanks two anonymous reviewers for the constructive and helpful comments in the review process of this article. The author also thanks Mary Zellmer-Bruhn for the feedback and support on earlier versions and Kathleen Reichelt for editing the manuscript. This article is based on the author's doctoral dissertation at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.
Citation
Beaver, G.R. (2023), "Individual outcomes of employee resource group membership", Personnel Review, Vol. 52 No. 5, pp. 1420-1436. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-03-2021-0163
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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