Tick-Tock, I’m On The Clock
Tick, tock, tick, tock…do you feel you’re always on a timer at work? The pile of emails, demands of meetings and the urgency of projects or customer requests a total time suck for you?
And now you want to carve out time to contribute to your company’s LGBTQ Employee Resource Group (ERG)?! Yes, sounds like a lot, and it is. The reality is that most company’s view any time dedicated to ERG leadership activities (meetings, events, etc.) as “voluntary”, even if it is during your regular work hours, with the understanding that you still need to be meet your “day job” obligations and performance expectations before you commit to your “gay job” obligations.
• Day Job = The job you get paid to do, regardless of time of day.
• Gay Job = The volunteer work you do for your company’s LGBTQ ERG
You should first check with your Diversity & Inclusion department (or whichever unit manages and supports your ERG) to determine expectations. Some companies have gone as far as having signed memos or agreements from the participating employee and their manager, agreeing to the terms of their service.
SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Once you understand the company’s expectations, you need to understand your expectations. Yes, you should set expectations for yourself that provides parameters for the time you commit to the ERG. When I started my first LGBTQ ERG for the company, I quickly realized there was a delicate balancing game I had to play between my day job and gay job, which overlapped many times. Through some trial and error (and many rescheduled meetings), I started to understand that time management took on a different context when you have both a day job and gay job. I realized that I had a passion for leadership and to see our ERG grow and succeed. This dedication had me working on ERG work through the nights and weekends. I determined that the joy and satisfaction I achieved through my ERG work was worth committing personal time to my gay job, which allowed me the freedom to explore ideas, build programs, and develop my leadership skills.
CONSIDER YOUR ROLE
To help define what your day job versus gay job time commitment could look like, consider the role in the ERG. Are you one of the ERG leaders, such as the Chair, Vice/Co-Chair, Secretary, Program Manager, or other vital roles? Do you have accountability on a regular basis, such as reporting, meeting facilitation, event planning? Or are you volunteering on an “as needed” basis, such as to help with the Pride events your company is sponsoring?
SCALE YOUR COMMITMENT
Once you outline the role and responsibilities you will have in your gay job, consider what it will take to achieve success. This could depend on the history of the ERG and the support provided to the group. For me, when I first started building LGBTQ ERG’s, in both instances (two different company’s) I found that I was creating everything from the ground up, with few support resources, as the company was still growing its D&I programming. I was a “business case” of sorts, exploring opportunities and developing business and budget requests to help fund and implement all our programming. Ultimately I chose to work nights and weekends, on occasion, to get the work done. I always checked in with my day job manager to keep them informed of my activities, which in turn bolstered my overall performance review. It was a win-win situation for me, and it can do the same for you.
Your company’s ERG may already have an established history of events and programs, with a supportive D&I department that you merely need to work with the parameters provided. On the flip side, you could be the “pioneer” in building something entirely new for the organization or even trying to rekindle a dying or long-lost group for your company. I have seen it all, speaking with people from all over the world in various states of ERG growth and success. The one thing that always remains the same; You have to commit to the gay job schedule by setting your expectations.
Your gay job may involve only a couple meetings a month and some email exchanges. Minimal time impact for you. This would be ideal, but occasionally there will be times of more significant effort, such as during Pride Month, when the demands for everyone is elevated. Discuss these events with your ERG leadership to ensure proper planning and resources (aka People) are available and ready to support the effort.
For others, the demands may be far more in the beginning, and the time needed to ensure deadlines are met and events are successful would mean your time invested. This is a reality that should be viewed as an opportunity for you to expand your professional skills and experience. Anything you do for your ERG should be documented in your resume and career biography as it represents your capacity to lead, contribute and deliver on various initiatives. Whether it’s helping with a Pride Parade, panel events, webinar series, or online article writing for your ERG, they all are experiences that build your skills and your networking!
THE REWARDS ARE GREATER THAN YOU THINK
Consider this; you will most likely be working with people in your company that you would never usually speak with for your day job. You’d also be working with, in some cases, with external leaders from organizations such as LGBT Centers, Gay Business Chambers, and ERGs from other companies and industries, that will further your overall professional network. The time you commit to your ERG can pay off in the long run with career exposure and sharpening of your skills.
Whether you are participating in a single event or taking a deeper dive into ERG leadership, be sure to evaluate your day job and gay job responsibilities. Understand the company’s expectations, as well as your expectations. And be prepared to be flexible, as scheduling your gay job could be more work than planning your day job, but ultimately your passion for the ERG will be rewarded with personal development and career opportunities.
