Did you ever notice that at some point, we decided that “belonging” meant free food?
Don’t get me wrong. I love free food; give me a good bagel spread any day of the week! But if you think an ERG-sponsored breakfast is what’s going to make your employees feel seen, supported, and more likely to stay, you might be confusing carbs with culture.
Let’s talk about what actually builds belonging, and what happens when ERGs become a strategy, not just a support system.
Belonging Isn’t a Bonus. It’s the Air People Breathe
We talk a lot about retention strategies: better benefits, flexible schedules, clearer career paths. And yes, those matter. But belonging isn't a perk. It's like air. You don't see it, but you definitely notice when it's missing.
People don't leave because the onboarding checklist skipped a bullet point. They leave because no one saw them. Because no one checked in when their camera stayed off for three days. Because they never found a safe space to ask a hard question or just be real.
One of my favorite books, Great People Decisions by Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, puts it simply:
“People don’t leave jobs; they leave people.”
That's what ERGs help prevent. They create the human connection that makes people want to stay.
belonging isn't a perk. It's like air. You don't see it, but you definitely notice when it's missing."
ERGs Aren’t Side Projects. They’re Strategy.
The work ERGs do is right out there in the open. It shows up in calendar invites, onboarding guides, peer mentoring, and planning calls. It’s emotional labor. It’s cultural labor. And it should be considered business-critical.
It’s the kind of work that keeps the workplace human, but rarely gets you a raise.
That’s a huge miss for HR. Because when culture is done well, it doesn’t just boost morale. It builds pipelines. It strengthens retention. It gives people a reason to stay.
If we’re serious about inclusion, then we need to treat community building as a lever, not a leftover.
when culture is done well, it doesn’t just boost morale. It builds pipelines. It strengthens retention. It gives people a reason to stay."
One Stat That Says It All (and a guide to making belonging measurable)
Employees in inclusive workplaces are 47% more likely to stay.*
And no, it's not because someone brought bagels. It's because they feel seen, supported, and connected.
That's what a well-run ERG creates. Not just a morale boost, but a culture people want to be part of.
Want to make your ERG a magnet for talent and retention? Download The Community Builder’s Action Sheet. It's full of tools, quick-start ideas, and metrics that actually move the needle.
