{"241461":{"#nid":"241461","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Employee Resource Groups Launch in October","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpportunities to network with Georgia Tech colleagues, receive professional development, and hear from others with common interests. These are just a few of the reasons Sandy Simpson thinks you should join one of the Institute\u2019s new Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cERGs have been known to increase employee engagement and provide a greater sense of inclusion in organizations where these types of groups exist,\u201d said Simpson, director of initiative advancement in the Office of Strategic Consulting and principal empowerment officer for the Women of Georgia Tech ERG. \u201cERGs will move us forward in the areas of recruitment, retention, and professional development \u2014 they are going to be a game changer for Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Oct. 9, the first ERG \u2014 the Women of Georgia Tech (WOT) group \u2014 will meet. WOT is one of six pilot ERGs that will also include groups for African heritage; Hispanics\/Latinos; introverts; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, and llies (LGBTQA); and veterans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe talked with more than 200 Tech employees and learned the campus longed for opportunities to build a greater sense of community and experience a greater sense of belonging,\u201d said Cheryl Cofield, director of culture, diversity, and inclusion for the Office for Human Resources. \u201cAs a result, we decided to pilot ERGs to help in Georgia Tech\u2019s goal of inclusive excellence.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EERGs are one of Tech\u2019s latest tools for creating a sense of community among faculty and staff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen people connect with their workplace, there is a real return \u2014 across the board,\u201d said Scott Morris, chief human resources officer. \u201cPeople benefit because they feel great about coming to work; the Institute benefits from increased productivity, creativity, and \u003Cbr \/\u003Ecollaboration.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the ERGs are designed to offer forums where like-minded faculty and staff can gather, each group is open to anyone interested in joining. For example, men are welcome to join the women\u2019s group and nonveterans can join the veteran\u2019s group, Cofield added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeetings for each ERG will be held bimonthly and activities will focus on the following three areas:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERecruiting and retaining top talent. Supporting recruitment efforts to attract diverse candidates and implement work-life activities to retain them.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEngaging the workforce. Fostering camaraderie and community building.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDeveloping talent. Offering mentoring and networking opportunities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe WOT group will kick off its meetings on Oct. 9 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe LGBTQA group will have its first meeting on Oct. 22 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Gordy Room of the Wardlaw Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe other ERG kick-off meetings will continue throughout the fall semester.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, you can contact Cofield at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:cheryl.cofield@ohr.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Echeryl.cofield@ohr.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E, or sign up to join any of the pilot ERGs by visiting the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ohr.gatech.edu\/erg\u0022\u003EERG website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOpportunities to network with Georgia Tech colleagues, receive professional development, and hear from others with common interests.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Opportunities to network with Georgia Tech colleagues, receive professional development, and hear from others with common interests."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2013-10-01 11:47:09","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:15:00","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2013-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2013-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.ohr.gatech.edu\/erg","title":"Employee Resource Groups"}],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"67851","name":"Cheryl Cofield"},{"id":"75391","name":"Employee Resource Groups"},{"id":"75401","name":"ERGs"},{"id":"1506","name":"faculty"},{"id":"8122","name":"Office of Human Resources"},{"id":"167018","name":"staff"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:cheryl.cofield@ohr.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ECheryl Cofield\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOffice of Human Resources\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}