The 'Great Resignation' is an opportunity as well as a risk

In her new role as head of ESG and sustainable investing at American Century Investments, Sarah Bratton Hughes said she's ready to push the firm into its next phase — moving out of the “ESG silo” and into the megatrends that will dominate the next 20 years.  

Having only been at American Century since the start of the year, she said there's been a strong foundation of sustainable investing for a number of years, so her focus has been on the themes the investment teams need to hone in on over the next few decades.

“We are moving out of the ESG silo and asking ourselves what are the defining themes of the future sustainable economy?" Bratton Hughes said. “Whether that is looking at the SDG [UN’s Sustainable Development Goals] funding gap in terms of where we need private funding, or the different approaches to sustainable investing, such as  best in class, transitioning, engagement and innovation, we are asking what are these themes.”

The American Century group has identified five themes for the next 10 to 20 years:
• Health care
• Empowerment – D&I
• Sustainable living and the circular economy
• Environment, carbon and biodiversity
• Digitalization

Within these, subthemes have been identified that will be looked at over the five to 10 years, and then even further subthemes are to be explored in a three- to five-year timeframe.

QUALITY JOBS

Bratton Hughes talked through all the themes but seemed particularly enamored when she spoke of the empowerment theme, and referred to the labor shortage in the US and the "Great Resignation," which is being seen all over the world, post Covid-lockdowns.

“This is an opportunity as well as a risk. Our focus is on quality jobs and the concept of treating employees as assets rather than liabilities, and investing in them," she said. “If employers do this, they see greater productivity, lower levels of absenteeism, greater levels of safety, quality jobs and a culture that people are looking for.

“Of course, wages are the most important thing, people need to be able to afford a roof over their heads," she said. "“But benefits such as health benefits, paid sick time, maternity leave, paternal leave and flexible working really play a part, and so does the empowerment piece — the ability to actually do your job and feel like you are making an impact.”

Bratton Hughes added that it's been estimated that the number of disengaged employees within companies costs $400 billion to $450 billion at the macro level, and for companies turnover costs them 34% of employees’ salaries.

“These are pre-Covid numbers, I would guess the cost right now is even more staggering,” she said.

SCHRODERS' EXIT

Talking about her own recent move to American Century after spending over a decade at Schroders, most recently as global head of sustainability solutions, she said ACI’s “unique business model” was one of the key motivations.

The company donates 40% of its profits to its controlling owner, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, which is dedicated to defeating life-threatening illnesses.

“Medical research has impacted us all; unfortunately we all know someone who has or has had cancer. I am currently pregnant, which was enabled by medical research," Bratton Hughes said. "I wanted a company that is truly embedding the ability to do good while doing well into its core — and it’s true here. I don’t think there are many other asset managers that can say the same.”

This article was originally published on Bonhill's ESG Clarity website. Natalie Kenway is global head of ESG insight for ESG Clarity.