108 - Affinity Groups – Relevant or Relics?

Littler Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Podcast

Affinity groups have been receiving mixed reviews from many of late. These groups have been lauded for improving the business, bolstering employee loyalty, and fostering a sense of community. However, these groups have also been criticized for creating employee silos, encouraging distrust and division, and functioning as mere “gripe sessions.” Littler Principal Cindy-Ann Thomas and her guests Patty Olsen, Chief Human Resources Officer of Huron, and Dr. Isaac Dixon, Associate Vice-President of Portland State University, examine both the pitfalls and opportunities associated with affinity groups. They explore the following questions, among many others: - Fifty years later, are affinity groups still really necessary? Or are such groups actually more necessary than ever right now, in light of our evolving socio-political climate? - What are the reasons behind any increase in cynicism associated with affinity groups and how can they be addressed? - When and under what conditions can these groups be successful and relevant? - How will affinity groups have to evolve if they are to be viable networks in the future? This podcast covers both sides of the mounting affinity group debate.