Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups made up of individuals who join together based on common interests, backgrounds, or demographic factors. These groups operate differently from one company to another but commonly incorporate both professional and social networking activities. Some benefits of ERGs include the ability for employees to find community among other employees who share their identities, interests, and/or concerns; increased employee satisfaction and retention; and leadership opportunities for individuals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. 

How to Find or Start an ERG at Your Organization 

Interested in finding your place within an ERG? ERGs have many benefits when it comes to helping you feel at home and supported at your organization. Additionally, if there is not an existing ERG that for your community, you can start your own! Learn more about the benefits of joining and ERG and the steps to starting one here. 

ERG names vary widely across organizations. Below are examples of common ERG names and titles students may encounter during their job search and career exploration process. 

Asian and Asian American Community 

• InspirASIAN 

• Asian Pacific Professional Network (APPN) 

• Asian Society for Innovation and Achievement (ASIA) 

• South Asian Professional Network Association (SAPNA) 

• Asian & Pacific Islander Alliance (APIA) 

• Pan-Asian Employee Network 

• Asian American Network 

• AAPI Connect 

• Asian Heritage Network 

• Lotus Employee Resource Group 

Black Community 

• Black Employee Network (BEN) 

• Black Insurance Professional Network (BIPN) 

• Black Originators Leaders and Doers (BOLD) 

• Black Professional Group (BPG) 

• Black Excellence Network 

• African American Employee Network (AAEN) 

• Black Leaders Alliance 

• Black Professionals United 

• Umoja Employee Resource Group 

• Black Advancement Coalition 

First-Generation Students 

• Young Professionals Network (YoPros) 

• Early Career Network 

• Rising Professionals (iRISE) 

• Recognizing Emerging Professionals (REP) 

• FirstGen Professionals Network 

• NextGen Leaders Network 

• First Generation Alliance 

• FirstGen Connect 

• Pathways to Success 

• Emerging Professionals Network 

International Students 

• Multicultural Professionals Network (MPN) 

• Cultures Connected Employee Resource Group 

• Multinational Employee Resource Group (MERG) 

• Bridges Employee Business Resource Group 

• International Employee Network 

• Global Professionals Network 

• Global Citizens Network 

• International Scholars Network 

• WorldConnect Employee Resource Group 

• Global Voices Network 

Latine Community 

• Hispanic Leadership Network (HLN) 

• Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement (HOLA) 

• Latin Diversity Network Employee Business Resource Group 

• Hispanic Action Network (HAN) 

• Unidos Employee Network 

• Latinx Professionals Alliance 

• Somos Employee Resource Group 

• Hispanic & Latinx Network 

• Latino Leadership Alliance 

• Orgullo Latinx 

LGBTQ+ 

• Pride Impact Network 

• Employee Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Empowerment (EAGLE) 

• Pride Partnership 

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Employee Resource Group 

• Unity 

• Pride Alliance 

• LGBTQ+ & Allies Network 

• Spectrum Employee Resource Group 

• Rainbow Alliance 

• Equality Alliance 

Middle Eastern and North African Community 

• Middle Eastern Employee Network (MEEN) 

• Middle Eastern & North African Alliance (MENA Alliance) 

• Arab Professionals Network 

• MENA Employee Resource Group 

• Middle Eastern Connections Network 

• Arab American Affinity Group 

• Middle Eastern Leadership Council 

• MENA Professionals Alliance 

• Arab Employee Network 

• MENA Cultural Collective 

Native and Indigenous Community 

• The Intertribal Council of Employees 

• Native American Employee Business Resource Group 

• Native American Professional Network (NAPN) 

• Council for Indigenous, Relevance, Communication, Leadership and Excellence (CIRCLE) 

• Indigenous Peoples Network 

• First Nations Employee Network 

• Indigenous Leadership Circle 

• Tribal Nations Alliance 

• Native Voices Network 

• Sacred Circle Network 

Neurodiverse Community 

• Neurodiversity Network 

• Neurodiverse Employee Alliance 

• Neuroinclusive Workplace Network 

• Diverse Minds Employee Resource Group 

• Autism & Neurodiversity Alliance 

• Cognitive Diversity Network 

• Neurodiversity & Allies 

• Different Thinkers Network 

• Inclusive Minds Alliance 

• Neurodivergent Professionals Network 

Religiously Affiliated 

• Faith Friendly & Allies 

• Muslim Employee Business Resource Group 

• Christian Employee Resource Group 

• Inter Belief Network (IBN) 

• Jewish Employee Network 

• Faithforce – Community for All Faiths 

• Interfaith Alliance 

• Faith & Belief Network 

• Spiritual Connections Network 

• Faith in the Workplace 

Students with Disabilities 

• Abled and Disabled Allies Partnering Together (ADAPT) 

• Disability Employee Resource Group 

• disABILITY Outreach and Inclusion Team 

• Disability Interest Forum 

• True Ability Employee Resource Group 

• Accessibility Alliance 

• Ability Network 

• Neurodiversity Network 

• Disability Inclusion Network 

• Diverse Abilities Network 

Undocumented and DACAmented Students 

• Multicultural Leadership Network 

• Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council 

• Multicultural Employee Business Resource Group 

• Diversity Network 

• Dreamers Network 

• Immigrant Professionals Network 

• Dreamers & Allies Alliance 

• Immigration Support Network 

• New Americans Alliance 

• Global Inclusion Network 

Veterans and Service Members 

• Military Community Network (MilCom) 

• Vets & Supporters Employee Resource Group 

• Military Support & Assistance Group (MSAG) 

• Veterans Leadership Council (VLC) 

• BRAVE 

• Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) 

• Military & Allies Network 

• Veteran Success Network 

• Armed Forces Network 

• VALOR Employee Network 

Women 

• Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) 

• Women’s Leadership Alliance 

• Women in Search of Excellence (WISE) 

• Women Connect Employee Business Resource Group 

• Women’s Affinity Group 

• Women in Leadership (WIL) 

• Women Empowered 

• Women’s Professional Network 

• Women in Technology 

• EmpowerHER Network 

Additional Notes 

Not all companies use the term “Employee Resource Groups” or “ERGs.” Names vary widely, but some other common terms include: 

• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) 

• Diversity Networks 

• Colleague Resource Groups 

• Team Member Networks 

• Affinity Groups 

The easiest way to find out which groups an employer maintains is to search the company website or type “Employee Resource Groups at [Company Name]” into a search engine. If a company has ERGs, you will usually find a page with a list of groups and a brief mission statement for each one. 

Students are encouraged to explore ERGs as part of their job and internship search process to better understand workplace culture, community, and support systems available within organizations.