Organisations urged to deepen inclusive policies for employees’ work-family life balance

Private organisations have been urged to promote inclusive policies to deepen the work-family life balance of their employees.

This position was disclosed during the recent 2025 International Day of Families breakfast dialogue organised by ADABA Initiative in Lagos.

Accordingly, organisations were also urged to be intentional about designing inclusive policies that reflect today’s diverse family structures. On the back of this, it was disclosed that there is a need to create an environment where work-family coexist as part of the same lived reality.

“This year’s global International Day of Families theme, Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development towards the second world summit for social development, calls on us all, governments, employers and communities, to take intentional steps towards shaping policies that enable working families to thrive,” Fabia Ogunmekan, principal consultant, ADABA Initiatives, said.

Read also: How better work-family integration improves Nigeria’s socioeconomic outcomes

According to her, the convening was strategically designed to dialogue on how workplace policies can better support families and family work life. She disclosed that supporting working families help in building stronger, healthier and more resilient organisations and societies.

“Policy does matter because we must start on a basic and articulated framework but we also wish to go beyond this documentation to consider not just what is written but what is working,” Ogunmekan said.

Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, special adviser to Lagos State governor on SDGs, said the theme of the dialogue, “Utilising policy towards employment and decent work for all families: Lessons from the private sector’ goes beyond paying for work done.

Finnih-Awokoya, who was represented by Aasiah Solanke, technical assistant to the SA on SDGs, stated that the dialogue highlights the importance of enabling conditions that respect the full human experience, including family success.

Motunrayo Ajayi, group head, corporate services & projects, Sterling Bank; said the financial institution is deliberate and intentional about policies that promotes employees’ wellbeing. “We’re very intentional about our employees, driving inclusion, driving productivity, ensuring that we are every step of the way in the lives of our employees.”