SUPPORTING THE BEDROCK OF SOCIETY

Part of the objective for the 20th anniversary celebration of the United Nations for the year of the family is to consider trends in family policy development and to share good practices. A lot of challenges and implications are the results of policies that affect the state of the family.

The family is very important to society such that the strength, health and resilience of a nation fundamentally depend on how well families function. Michael Novak states in his commentary on the family: ‘Clearly, the family is the seedbed of economic skills, money habits, attitudes toward work, and the arts of financial independence. The family is a stronger agency of educational success than the school. The family is a stronger teacher of the religious imagination than the church. Political and social planning in a wise social order begins with the axiom; 'what strengthens the family strengthens society’….

Public policies that support family issues such as housing, transport, infrastructure, health, education, taxation, employment and disability services can help to balance the demands between work and family while paid leave, childcare and support for housing are positively related to both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. It is important to make efforts towards reducing the negative effects between work and family in organizations to improve productivity of employed parents.

At IWFI, we join in the discussions as we examine global trends from world leaders and industry experts on how family responsible policies are implemented at various spheres of economy and in organizations. On the 21st of May, we shall have a select group of CEOs, senior executives, HR directors and principals of industry in Lagos at the IWFI Work and Family Conference to identify work and family best practices, case studies, solutions and recommendations.

You can find out how to participate by calling Anne 08160537922 or Charles 08160537933