Employee Resource Groups – Grow Equity Within Your Company

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s a great time to reflect on the impact employee resource groups (ERGs), like the Rihm Women’s Association (RWA), have on Rihm and can have on a company like yours. If you want to start your own ERG, here are a few quick tips to get started.

1. Get the support you need from leadership. 

If you’re considering launching an ERG at your company, it’s important to get the support of your company’s leadership team. Here at Rihm, I felt fortunate because we are a woman-owned business, and Rihm President & CEO Kari Rihm was whole-heartedly supportive in us starting the Rihm Women’s Association. Whether your resource group is for working mothers, people of color, sustainability, or health advocacy, getting support from leaders in your company is going to be a key first step.

2. Establish clear goals/what you hope to accomplish. 

This will help determine your group’s purpose and mission. The RWA’s goals are:

• Create strategies that improve female employee engagement within Rihm and the trucking industry.
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities for women to advance their careers and demonstrate leadership.
• Work to resolve discrimination and harassment and provide a more inclusive environment for women at Rihm.
• Create a work environment that ensures women have equal access to opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

3. Make sure your group is inclusive across departments & roles. 

Rihm has locations across the state and surrounding area, so ensuring everyone has access to our RWA meetings and events was important. Most of our meetings have a virtual option and we record them for playback, so if someone cannot make it in person, they aren’t missing out on the content.

4. Talk about your group and its impact. 

Beyond the internal benefits of having an ERG, you can use the group to help recruit new team members. Our human resources department talks about the RWA and other initiatives during candidate interviews. It helps “sell” our company culture and how important gender equity is to Rihm. Women both in and outside of Rihm see the value in that level of support. Rihm plans to expand its ERG offerings this year, with even more support for its team members. If you’d like more information on the RWA or starting your own company ERG, feel free to reach out to me any time! Kristin.Ridley@RihmFamilyCompanies.com.

About the Rihm Women’s Association 

The Rihm Women’s Association (RWA) is a women’s resource group designed to recognize the contributions of female employees; help women expand their professional network and develop leadership skills; address workplace challenges for women; and encourage and promote more women in trucking with engagement both within the company and in the community. Learn more about the RWA by visiting our website. RihmKenworth.com/RWA