We believe diverse perspectives and backgrounds provide a competitive advantage, and we strive to provide a work environment where people feel safe having complex and sometimes difficult conversations. These safe spaces help employees learn, grow and support one another, building stronger working teams and improving results for the company.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Council was challenged with improving engagement and providing structures to enable safe spaces and development for employees who work across the nation in a variety of field and office roles.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Council recognized the challenge and set a formal Workplace Inclusion goal to re-energize and grow our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

We established guidelines to enable employee-led ERGs to participate in community and volunteer events, lend professional and personal support to one another, and promote inclusion across the company to help create a stronger culture of belonging.

We identified and leveraged technology to enable groups to form both locally and enterprisewide, providing access for employees located anywhere in the organization to join and lead groups.

We provided training and resources to ERG leaders and committee members to ensure best practices are shared across all ERGs, and that each group has the tools necessary to sustain employee engagement and membership.

ERG leaders also provide feedback to the D&I Council to help prioritize future goals and expand or refocus resources to promote inclusion across the company.

Outcomes:

In 2022, our Employee Resource Groups grew to 10, with unique membership totaling nearly 25% of employees. Active groups include:

• Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group
• Black Employee Resource Group
• Latin Employee Resource Group
• LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group
• Men Advocating Real Change Employee Resource Group
• Native Employee Resource Group
• Parents in Williams Employee Resource Group
• Veterans Employee Resource Group
• Women of Williams Employee Resource Group
• Young Professionals Employee Resource Group

Each ERG provides learning, community involvement, development and networking opportunities for members. All interested employees may join any group as a member or ally, regardless of their location or role within the company. 

D&I Council members and company leaders are receiving and sharing feedback that employees appreciate the formal effort and recognize that our D&I Council is placing greater importance on building a welcoming and inclusive company culture for all employees.