Monterey County Employee Resource Groups

The County of Monterey is committed to supporting the growth and development of workforce diversity through fostering the development of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). ERGs promote equity and social justice, foster employee engagement, strengthen workplace effectiveness, improve leadership abilities, and enhance personal and professional growth within Monterey County.

The purpose of the Employee Resource Groups is to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace environment that supports open and constructive conversations to enhance all employees' experience within Monterey County. 

ERGs aim to: 

• Increase Awareness around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts

   

• Enrich employee engagement
• Recruit and retain employees

What are ERGs?

ERGs are County-recognized, employee-run groups based around protected classes to promote equity values and strategic efforts of the County and its Equal Opportunity Plan while also fostering personal and professional growth for County employees. ERG's should involve or implicate one of the following characteristics: Race, Color, Gender/Gender Identity and Expression/Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), National origin, Age, Mental and Physical Disabilities, Genetics, Ancestry, Sexual Orientation, Marital status, Medical conditions, and Military/Veteran status.

Who can join?

Membership in an ERG is voluntary and open to all regular employees. To truly embrace diversity and inclusion, employees are encouraged to join groups that are not reflective of their race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran's status or other protected characteristic. 

You can find our ERG Guidelines here. If you are interested in creating an ERG, there are a couple of steps needed:

1. The first would be to fill out our interest form here.
2. From there, once approved, you will complete our charter application (emailed once we receive the interest form).
3. Attend a 30-minute orientation to be an official ERG. 

 

If at any time in the application process you need assistance, please reach out to our office via email civilrights@co.monterey.ca.us. 

 

 Please see our existing ERGs here:

Department Head ERG Committee

The Department Head ERG Committee consists of the following leaders:

• Juan P. Rodriguez, Civil Rights Officer
• Jeannine Pacioni, District Attorney
• Elsa Jimenez, Director Health Services
• Hillary Theyer, Library Director
• Susan Chapman, Public Defender

DH ERG Committee Objectives:

• Increase awareness around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts
• Enrich employee engagement 
• Recruit and retain employees

DH ERG Mission:

The Department Head ERG Committee equips, enables, and empowers the Employee Resource Groups to provide a safe platform to embrace diversity for Monterey County employees

The Department head seeks to foster an environment that:

• Promotes diversity, inclusiveness, and openness
• Creates a workforce that is representative of those it serves
• Meaningfully engages employees to make Monterey County an employer of choice