Have workplace employee networks gone too far

That's great and I'm glad foe you, nobody will force you to join the network but if there's sessions on microaggressions, policies etc, things which many may not think of and may not know where these things come from and why they are harmful, can only be a good thing for the purposes of education. It's not just disability (for which there is plenty of discrimination in many workplaces, and barriers to promotion), the same for race, and we know how women suffer especially when in their late 20s and 30s and the motherhood tax along with many other issues in class. You cannot speak for all of your colleagues and neither can you for those in different groups, you don't know what they've experienced and if they feel more supported by such a network and feeling like they can be with people who have had similar experiences can be great for community and education of others. It's not always perfect and I'm sorry to @KawasakiBabe because these networks aren't always great and they should translate down to policies and practices within the workplace culture, which can start from this when they are done well and with those from said communities being at the helm of them.

At my last place of work, where I was for 30 years, there seemed to be a group for everything. I joined a few and did some work for them, took everything they said on board and tried my damnedest to make sure I altered my ways of communication. Then I put on weight and had some pretty nasty comments, one person even called my something nasty in front of our director, all she did was say “I can’t believe they said that” and laughed. I was floored tbh. I raised it with the person who organised these groups and all she said was “that must be awful”. Seems like I’d done what I could to stop micro aggressions but still had to put up with blatant hideous comments myself. Pissed me right off, as you can probably tell, lol.

Anyway, that said, these groups have their place, but 50% of someone’s time is more likely her taking the piss than what is actually needed.

I also want to add think about class, have those people gotten work experience if not why (is it because they have no connections), what about the price of travelling to an internship, is the internship unpaid? I'd read this article it's about the 93% Club and how people now I'm corporate jobs but grew up working class and the barriers they face and feeling alienated in the workplace.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/19/state-school-britain-93-club-privately-educated

Look at the number of tribunals pending and recent cases. Lots of workforces are still not safe places for women, pregnant women and a whole range of protected characteristics

Also you wouldn't necessarily know the barriers people in these groups face, it's not just microaggressions, it's also whether the policies have diversity and inclusion embedded, whether it's accessible in interviews and applications for disabled people, whether it's not just someone in a wheelchair or someone with neurodevelopmental conditions, or a chronic illness. Are there jokes around hair which are often brought up or microaggressions which you don't pick up on, networking for women in networks where it's more male dominated or making policies accessible for new mothers and parents in general. I think you're being incredibly naive if you think there's no or little discrimination in the workplace, whilst that's your experience, if you're not of those people you cannot really comment because you wouldn't be experiencing it. Even if it's not in your face doesn't mean it isn't happening and I can tell you that the majority of workplaces have a lot more to do on this and there is lots of prejudice and discrimination in many workplaces.

i work in probably a similar company with similar types of network groups and i just dont pay attention to anything that im not intrested in

I think we may work at the same place! Literally a club for every single group you can think of. Bulletin after bulletin, posters, seminars. Can’t even have a wee in peace without a poster looking down on you inviting you to the next drinks soirée to celebrate a shoe lace. It’s endless.

Which employee group would you be a member of @Holidayheat if you had to join one? Which minority would you fall under?

I think if you're not one of those groups you don't completely understand the microaggressions which are faced regularly in the workplace and even if people aren't outwardly against those groups they are often ignorant of many issues they face and education for them is important. It's also important for employees in such groups to feel they have safe spaces.