This is the second research quarterly in the 2003 series.

In organziations an on the home front, the challenge of work/life balance is rising to the top of many employers' and employees' consciousness, In today's fast-paced society, human resource professionals seek options to positively impact the bottom line of their companies, improve employee morale, retain employees with valuable company knowledge, and keep pace with workplace trends.

This article provides human resource professionals with historical perspective, data and possible solution-for organizations and employees alike-to work/life balance. Three factors-global competition, personal lives/family values, and an aging workforce-presents challenges that exacerbate work/life balance. This article offers the perspective that human resource professionals can assist their companies to capitalize on these factors by using work/life initiatives to gain a competitive advantage in the the marketplace.