An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
Review your Staff Networks/ERGs
Staff Networks can be an important way to inspire and empower employees within the business. Partners and Senior Leaders should openly support and encourage staff networks, support employees that volunteer their time to staff networks and working towards diversity and inclusion with the workplace.
It is important that you review your staff networks:
- What Staff Network/ERGs does you firm have?
- What do they do and what are their goals and objectives?
- Do they all have a Senior Champion?
- Do they all have an engaged chair and committee?
- Do they all have a budget? Are they using it?
- Do staff members know about the networks and how to join them?
- Do you need to do a recruitment drive for the networks?
- Are your networks joined up?
- Do they focus on internal or external engagement or both?
- Is there a need for additional staff networks?
Examples of Staff Networks/ERGs:
Most firm start with one or two staff networks and then grow as the demand grows or as their existing networks become more established. Smaller firms may not have enough people to form their own networks and might want to establish a more general EDI Committee/group and benefit from the membership of external organisations such as the law society networks etc.
Here are some examples of networks (or sub-networks) that you might want to establish (or combine):
- Women’s Network
- Gender Network
- Balance Network
- Ethnicity Network /REACH Network / Race and Culture Network
- Black Lawyers Network
- Asian Lawyers (South Asian and/or East Asian Networks)
- LGBT+ Network
- Parents/Families Network
- Carer’s Network
- Disability Network
- Neurodiversity Network
- Health and Wellbeing Network
- Jewish Network
- Muslim Network
- Christian Network
- Social Mobility
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
