Let’s talk about ESG Ep. 11: why understanding social aspects is key for resilience
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Covid-19 has exposed a lot of societal issues, be it job security or workplace safety, however the social aspect of ESG remains one of the least explored by investors today.
Speaking to Citywire Selector, BNP Paribas Asset Management’s Jane Ambachtsheer, global head of sustainability, and Adam Kanzer, head of stewardship Americas, said lots of conversations the team had with firms in 2020 were about the health and safety of employees, as sick leave, for example, became the key element of long-term risk management.
‘When companies are saying they have added some paid sick leave policies or hazard pay, we are asking which of these policies are temporary and which are going to remain in place, because these kinds of things are going to happen again,’ Kanzer added.
He said 2021 will involve trying to get a better understanding of what lessons have been learned and what steps companies are taking regarding resilience. ‘Let's not waste a crisis, let's try to learn from this,’ he added.
Also in this podcast the duo talk about the challenges of measuring social aspects of ESG, why companies should pay migrant workers for relocation.
Speaking to Citywire Selector, BNP Paribas Asset Management’s Jane Ambachtsheer, global head of sustainability, and Adam Kanzer, head of stewardship Americas, said lots of conversations the team had with firms in 2020 were about the health and safety of employees, as sick leave, for example, became the key element of long-term risk management.
‘When companies are saying they have added some paid sick leave policies or hazard pay, we are asking which of these policies are temporary and which are going to remain in place, because these kinds of things are going to happen again,’ Kanzer added.
He said 2021 will involve trying to get a better understanding of what lessons have been learned and what steps companies are taking regarding resilience. ‘Let's not waste a crisis, let's try to learn from this,’ he added.
Also in this podcast the duo talk about the challenges of measuring social aspects of ESG, why companies should pay migrant workers for relocation.
