Most working parents ERGs start the same way. Someone mentions daycare pickup in a meeting, three people message them afterward, and a Slack channel appears. That channel is the ERG. What's missing is the structure that keeps it going once the person who started it gets busy—and being a parent, they will.
Start with the people who already found each other
Look for the parents' channel, the group that trades daycare tips, the colleagues who always leave at 5:15. Ask five of them one question: what's the hardest part of being a working parent here? Their answers become your purpose.
Write a one-page charter
Who it's for, what it does, and two or three goals for the first year. Name caregivers early, so it's clear the group isn't only for parents of toddlers.
Find an executive sponsor
A sponsor brings a budget line, a calendar slot, and a reason for managers to take the group seriously. The best one is often a senior leader who's a parent and talks about it openly. Keep the ask small: thirty minutes a quarter, and their name on the first invite.
Plan one first event people will come to
The first event decides whether the ERG feels real. Pick a date that's already on the calendar. Bring Your Child to Work Day, the fourth Thursday of April (April 22, 2027), is a natural one: it's visible, it's family-facing, and it gives parents of the youngest kids a reason to show up. A short story-and-song session for ages 0–7 needs one room and about 30 minutes.
Other good first events: a welcome-back coffee for parents returning from leave, or a fireside chat with a working parent who has lived it.
Keep it light enough to last
Two co-leads instead of one, so a sick kid doesn't cancel everything. One regular thing, like a monthly lunch, plus one or two bigger moments a year. For a full-year calendar, see our working parents ERG ideas.
FAQ
Who should a working parents ERG include?
Anyone who cares for someone: parents, expecting parents, foster and adoptive parents, and people caring for aging family members. Many companies call it a parents and caregivers ERG.
How much budget does a new parents ERG need?
Less than most people expect. A first year can run on a shared channel, a sponsor, and budget for one or two events.
What's a good first event for a new parents ERG?
Something tied to a date people already know, like Bring Your Child to Work Day in April, or a welcome-back event for parents returning from leave.
Planning your ERG's first event?
Author Jossy runs talks, fireside chats, and Bring Your Child to Work Day sessions with HR, People, and ERG teams, in person or virtual.
