Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are an important part of a company's culture. They help build community and engage different perspectives with the goal of encouraging positive change within and outside of the company.

In our Spotlight on ERG series, learn about ERGs across Henkel North America, that include nearly 2,000 employees, and are helping to build an inclusive environment and advance our DEI priorities.

Learn more below about our ERG: The Aerospace Cultural Alliance (ACA).

Henkel’s Aerospace Cultural Alliance aims to spread unity through diversity by highlighting the perspectives and experiences of employees at Henkel’s Bay Point, California site, an adhesives manufacturing facility supporting the aerospace industry. The ERG focuses its activities in three areas: professional development, community outreach and cultural awareness.

Professional Development

The ACA hosts several programs focused on professional development that incorporate views from Henkel employees and customers. The Walkabout is a signature ACA event held every November that gives employees insight into different parts of the business, helping to break down silos that can often form in the workplace. The program provides an opportunity for employees to rotate through different business functions, providing greater awareness into work taking place. The experience culminates in a two-day workshop with a keynote speaker. This year, employees will hear from a leader at one of Henkel’s customers on their insight into the importance and impact of diversity.

Community Outreach

ACA members participate in the annual Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair through a grant from Henkel’s Make an Impact on Tomorrow’s (MIT) program. Celebrating its 25^th year, the MIT program provides in-kind and financial support for social projects that employees are passionate about. The ERG has been a nine-time participant and three-time silver sponsor of the fair, which reaches local students in Contra Costa County. Each year, the company awards the Henkel Highflyer recognizing a student who created an exciting project related to aerospace science.

Cultural Awareness

The ERG works to build programming that also connects professional development and community outreach with cultural moments throughout the year, including Juneteenth, PRIDE Month, International Women’s Day and more. For Hispanic Heritage Month this year, the group partnered with colleagues from Henkel’s Unidos! Latinx ERG to host two events for Bay Point employees including a group viewing of a virtual professional development event called “Become the CEO of Your Success” with Yvette Regalado, Founder and CEO of Our Wild Success. The groups also hosted Isaac Mizrahi, author of “Hispanic Market Power – America’s Business Growth Engine,” to speak about the importance of diversity from a Hispanic perspective.

The ACA is successful thanks to its members and the strong support it receives from site leadership. The group’s efforts have contributed to employee retention and recruitment efforts and supervisors have reported improved productivity after events like The Walkabout.

"I am very thankful to say that our site looks like what I hope the world will look like eventually. Our work is authentic and has a real impact. We are not just checking a box, we genuinely care about our employees and fostering a culture of inclusion." 

Rochelle Miller, Innovation Project Manager, Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Henkel

Henkel

About Henkel in North America
In North America, Henkel operates across its three business units: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care. Its portfolio of well-known consumer and industrial brands includes Schwarzkopf® hair care, Dial® soaps, Right Guard® antiperspirants, Persil®, Purex®, and all® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners as well as Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales of around 6 billion US dollars (5 billion euros) in 2019, North America accounts for 26 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs approximately 9,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com, and on Twitter @Henkel_NA.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2019, Henkel reported sales of more than 20 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of more than 3.2 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 52,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

More from Henkel