We continue to put pressure on companies failing to tackle social issues like inequality and diversity

We believe diversity of thought in business – the bringing together of people of different ages, experiences, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social and economic backgrounds – is a crucial step towards building a better economy and society.

More diverse organisations tend to make better strategic decisions, show superior growth and innovation, and exhibit lower risk.

Ethnic and gender diversity in the workplace

Healthcare

In 2021 we took several actions to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which we believe could be the next big threat to global health.

Antimicrobial resistance

The overuse of antimicrobials (including antibiotics) in human and animal medicine, agriculture and aquaculture, as well as discharges from pharmaceutical production facilities, is often associated with an uncontrolled release and disposal of antimicrobial agents. Put simply, antibiotics end up in our water systems, including our clean water, wastewater, rivers and seas (source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2017). This can increase the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes, leading to higher instances of difficult-to-treat infections.

In response

In response to the growing issue of AMR, we:

  • Are exploring how we can influence regulations on water utility companies to use effective monitoring systems
  • Joined the UN General Assembly’s Call to Action on AMR, aiming to enhance global coordination, accountability and governance by strengthening future pandemic preparation and tackling AMR
  • Support a shareholder proposal for fast-food giant McDonald’s to report on antibiotics and public health costs at the company

Other areas

Other areas that we have engaged in include:

  • Working with ShareAction to increase nutrition targets on the sale of healthy products with large UK retailers
  • Signed up to the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), actively engaging with 20 global food and beverage manufacturers to drive change in issues such as undernutrition, obesity and diet-related chronic diseases at local and global levels.

The Living Wage

We ask all companies to help reduce global poverty by paying at least the living wage, or the real living wage for UK-based employees. We also ask them to ensure that their direct suppliers do the same.

We are pleased that half of FTSE 100 companies in the UK are now real-living-wage accredited*, including companies with which we have engaged on this topic, such as Taylor Wimpey. We also asked that companies and their suppliers offered all employees a weekly minimum of 15 hours’ work, should they want it.(*Living Wage Foundation, November 2021)

Two men working in a cardboard factory

Legal & General's inclusion policy

Legal & General’s own policy on inclusion means we recruit people based on merit regardless of sexuality, gender preference, physical ability, age, ethnic or social background.

You can find out more about our Group’s policies and purpose.

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Taking action

Find out how we’ve influenced companies like Moderna, Twitter, BP and Experian to tackle the impact they have on our climate and to change the way they manage their businesses.

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Environment

The action we are taking to protect the wellbeing of our planet.

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Governance

How we ensure companies are well run.

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The value of your pension savings can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed.

Most of the activity described on this site is carried out by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), a division of Legal & General. LGIM manages your funds and makes the day-to-day investment decisions.

All our funds are managed by professional fund managers but some of the funds available to you are not managed by Legal & General. External fund managers may take a different approach to responsible investing.

Throughout this site, we use companies as examples of the action we take. The issues highlighted are not exclusive to them.

Reference to a particular security is on a historic basis and does not mean that the security is currently held or will be held within an LGIM portfolio. The information on this site does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any security.