Employees want to feel safe and valued at work.
As a gay man, a sense of belonging is important to my personal and professional well-being.
I am thankful that my employer provides a range of diverse employee resource groups, or ERGs, that foster inclusion and belonging, including groups for women and people with disabilities.
I am a member of the company’s Pride employee resource group. Being involved has given me more confidence to come out at work and among my family.
I began working for Dominion Energy in 2015 in customer service. Now, I work as a customer projects designer helping with service calls for businesses and residents.
The Pride employee resource group was launched in 2017 as an internal community for staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Allies are welcome, too.
Employee resource groups help employees bring their whole selves to work. A lot of times, members of the LGBTQ+ community are hiding who they are, but it is comforting to work for an employer who wants and encourages you to bring your full self to work. It’s a relief.
People spend a lot of time at work, so it’s helpful to be able to be the same person they are at home at work among colleagues. When you’re not stressed or hiding, you can be focused on your job and more productive.
In the Pride ERG, I have been able to share my story and connect with those who have stories similar to mine. We are able to connect on a personal level as well as a professional level.
I also serve as the community-focused lead for the resource group and as a liaison to local organizations to have a presence in the community at festivals, career fairs and more. We also partner with local charities that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
We want people outside of the organization to know that we have these types of resources in the company. It helps to show that our company is an inclusive and diverse employer.
Here are my top 3 reasons for joining an ERG:
To connect with colleagues: Sometimes it’s hard to talk to someone who can’t relate. In the group, I can talk to those who understand how I am feeling, with no fear of judgment.
To network and learn about the company: Meeting other people in the group has allowed me to learn about various career paths within the company. Your possibilities are endless as far as your career.
To gain confidence and resources: Being a member has given me a boost of confidence. If I want to wear a certain thing, or if I want to do something different with my hair, I do not feel ashamed. Also, this group has helped me with coming out to my family and knowing what to say, whereas I used to feel afraid.
If your workplace offers resource groups, I encourage you to consider joining or starting one.
Ryan Key is a customer projects designer for Dominion Energy in Hampton Roads. He serves on the leadership team for the company’s Pride employee resource group.
