HCAP Partners focuses on building quality jobs at small businesses, particularly for low-to-moderate income wage earners to foster operational excellence and achieve business success. This work is done alongside deeply committed management teams who understand and value the benefits of investing in their employees to strengthen their businesses.
The Gainful Jobs Approach™️:
Our Operational Impact Framework
The Gainful Jobs Approach™
Developed through collaboration with our LPs and industry thought leaders, HCAP Partners’ Gainful Jobs Approach™️ is our operational impact framework for understanding and improving job quality standards at our portfolio companies through:
- A robust quantitative measurement system to assess existing job quality standards and improvements
- Active portfolio engagement to identify and implement workplace initiatives aimed at creating and maintaining high-quality jobs
- Exits aligned with our impact thesis of improving job quality through “carrot agreements”
Key Themes & Attributes of the Gainful Jobs Approach™️
HCAP Partners’ Gainful Jobs Approach™ focuses on improving standards across the themes of Economic Opportunity, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Health & Wellness. Within these themes, HCAP focuses on six job quality attributes: Broad-Based Participation, Opportunities for Advancement, Sustainable Livelihood, DEI: Belonging, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Initiatives.
An Updated Methodology for Analyzing Job Quality
In 2023, HCAP revisited its methodology for analyzing job quality under the Gainful Jobs Approach™ to enhance the evaluation of company workplace practices, more precisely calculate the number of quality jobs over time across HCAP’s investment portfolio, and provide greater clarity for portfolio companies into their job quality results and performance.
As part of this process, HCAP reviewed its historical portfolio company data, consulted current research on human capital management and job quality, and leveraged impact measurement and management resources such as the IRIS+ core metrics sets in job quality, racial equity, and gender lens investing. Based on this review, HCAP developed an updated methodology for analyzing job quality under the Gainful Jobs Approach™.
The updated methodology includes a new set of criteria that determine the presence of each of the six key attributes of the Gainful Jobs Approach™ based on portfolio company workplace practices, policies, benefits, and HR initiatives. By applying these criteria, HCAP is now able to calculate the number of quality jobs over time for individual portfolio companies, compare company job quality performance, and provide portfolio companies with more actionable guidance for improving job quality.
See the table in Appendix B for detailed criteria on each of the six attributes of the Gainful Jobs Approach™.
Key Steps in the Gainful Jobs Approach™️
HCAP applies a systematic approach to impact management through the Gainful Jobs Approach™ by undertaking the following key steps to support portfolio companies throughout the investment period to achieve job quality outcomes and operational excellence.
Pre-Investment
- Deal leads socialize the Gainful Jobs Approach™ including HCAP’s DEI commitment with prospective companies
- HCAP includes language in term sheets on companies’ commitment to implementing the Gainful Jobs Approach™
- Companies complete quantitative and qualitative baseline job quality assessment as part of due diligence
- Baseline job quality assessment results are examined by HCAP with DEI lens and reviewed with company leadership
- Company leadership and HCAP develop an initial Strategic Roadmap with quality jobs and DEI goals prior to investment close that is integrated in company’s overall value creation plan
Ongoing Investment Mgmt.
- HCAP provides ongoing advisory support, guidance, resources, and tools to company leadership as they implement the value creation plan and make progress towards their quality jobs and DEI goals
- Portfolio companies report quarterly progress on their quality jobs and DEI goals within the value creation plan
- HCAP analyzes job quality data and administers employee engagement surveys to understand how employees are experiencing job quality improvements and progress on DEI
- HCAP conducts quarterly check-ins with companies to review progress towards goals, discuss job quality and DEI data and findings, and revisit/update the value creation plan where necessary
Prior to Exit
- HCAP and company leadership conduct a final check-in to review overall progress on quality jobs and DEI goals utilizing the Gainful Jobs Approach™ exit analysis and to capture successes, challenges, and lessons learned to inform the Gainful Jobs Approach™ moving forward
- HCAP and company leadership review plans to implement carrot agreements that provide low- to moderate-income and frontline workers with cash bonuses upon a successful exit so they share in the upside of the acquisition; HCAP and company leadership ensure that the bonus pool is distributed equitably to employees
Key Steps in the Gainful Jobs Approach™️
HCAP applies a systematic approach to impact management through the Gainful Jobs Approach™ by undertaking the following key steps to support portfolio companies throughout the investment period to achieve job quality outcomes and operational excellence.
Pre-Investment
- Deal leads socialize the Gainful Jobs Approach™ including HCAP’s DEI commitment with prospective companies
- HCAP includes language in term sheets on companies’ commitment to implementing the Gainful Jobs Approach™
- Companies complete quantitative and qualitative baseline job quality assessment as part of due diligence
- Baseline job quality assessment results are examined by HCAP with DEI lens and reviewed with company leadership
- Company leadership and HCAP develop an initial Strategic Roadmap with quality jobs and DEI goals prior to investment close that is integrated in company’s overall value creation plan
Ongoing Investment Mgmt.
- HCAP provides ongoing advisory support, guidance, resources, and tools to company leadership as they implement the value creation plan and make progress towards their quality jobs and DEI goals
- Portfolio companies report quarterly progress on their quality jobs and DEI goals within the value creation plan
- HCAP analyzes job quality data and administers employee engagement surveys to understand how employees are experiencing job quality improvements and progress on DEI
- HCAP conducts quarterly check-ins with companies to review progress towards goals, discuss job quality and DEI data and findings, and revisit/update the value creation plan where necessary
Prior to Exit
- HCAP and company leadership conduct a final check-in to review overall progress on quality jobs and DEI goals utilizing the Gainful Jobs Approach™ exit analysis and to capture successes, challenges, and lessons learned to inform the Gainful Jobs Approach™ moving forward
- HCAP and company leadership review plans to implement carrot agreements that provide low- to moderate-income and frontline workers with cash bonuses upon a successful exit so they share in the upside of the acquisition; HCAP and company leadership ensure that the bonus pool is distributed equitably to employees
As a testament to our continued efforts in advancing the Gainful Jobs Approach™️, HCAP is honored to be recognized as an Emeritus Impact Manager in the ImpactAssets 50™ 2024 (IA 50). Achieving this status for the 11th consecutive year underscores our commitment to quality jobs.
“Since its founding, HCAP has showcased how positive social impact and attractive financial returns can go hand in hand. We look forward to continuing to support innovative companies that have been underserved by institutional capital—helping them scale, support their workforces, catalyze quality job growth, and improve business resilience to the benefit of all.”
—Tim Bubnack, Managing Partner of HCAP Partners
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