Baxter Labs recently completed a long term global study in which they found that what their employees worldwide wanted most was "to be respected as whole human beings with a life outside of work." With all the changes in today's workplaces, it seems that most of us are constantly struggling to balance work and family. People are working longer hours, doing more with less, and finding themselves stretched to their very limits by the demands of their jobs. Little time and energy is left for family, and the organizations which encourage and support work/life initiatives are still few and far between.

One of the answers to this crisis is to find creative ways to blend work and family. Here are some tips and ideas for ways to combine your work and home lives.

Share your work with your family.

Research shows that one of the things employees want is a "feeling of being in on things." Family members want the same thing--to be a part of one another's lives outside of the home. That is why parents often annoy their children by constantly asking, "What happened at school today?" The exciting news is that there are many fun and interesting ways to involve your family in your work, and when that happens, you'll be surprised at how much more willing they are to include you in their whole lives as well.

• Videotape the place where you work. Do a "walking tour" showing the reception area if you have one, the cafeteria or breakout room, and most importantly, your office, cubicle, or work area. (Make sure you have a family picture and family mementos VISIBLE in your workspace.) Include "hello's" from some of your colleagues if you feel comfortable.

• Invite your family members, perhaps one at a time, to join you for lunch. Some parents allow their children to each have a special "Dad or Mom" (or Grandpa/Grandma, Aunt/Uncle) day when they get to take a day off from school to visit their family member's workplace.

• Help to organize a "Bring your Family to Work" day or an Openhouse, Expo, or Fair in which families come to learn more about what their relatives do. Make sure that different activities are planned for different age groups, and always serve some kind of food to create an atmosphere of celebration.

• Give your family members logo gifts from your organization so that they feel like they are a part of your worklife. By creating a feeling of partnership with your family, you are helping to stop feelings of jealousy that you care more about your job than you do about them. Also, they will enjoy the pride that comes from advertising "their" favorite organization.

• Ask your family members to help you with a work project. It may be as simple as stuffing envelopes, or stapling papers, or filing and sorting; however, if it is done as a family, it brings closeness rather than separation. Then plan some sort of celebration as a reward at the finish of the task. My family members are very involved in my work. My daughter Erin creates all the bright-colored, laminated flip charts I post around the room or ballroom whenever I speak. My daughter Gretchen creates the wonderful slides I use in my presentations. My son Garrett has been involved in selling my books, and my husband Charlie often travels with me and keeps my financial records. It has become "our" business!

• Start contests at your workplace that involve families. The DMV in Virginia sponsored a wonderful contest in which they asked family members to draw pictures of what their Mom/Dad/Grandpa/Grandma/Aunt/Uncle did at work all day. The pictures were so delightful that they had them framed, and their hallways and reception areas are filled with the children's drawings. Not only do their customers enjoy them and the atmosphere they create, but the children love to come in and see THEIR drawing hanging where their family member works!

• When you receive an award at work, make sure you share it with your family. Invite them to the ceremonies if possible. If you receive a monetary reward, find a way to do something to share it with each family member such as an outing of some kind or a gift that you have all been wanting. You might even have a family conference to make that decision and let each family member have a vote. Let them really know that you couldn't have done this without their support.

• Invite colleagues to your home, particularly the person to whom you report, so that your family members can get to know them. If you are a manager, one of the most memorable things you could do would be to invite the families of your employees to your home. When I worked at Kaset International, a Times Mirror training company, the owners of the company once a year invited all the families to their home. That gesture created more loyalty to the company and harmony at home than any monetary bonus they could have given!

• When you are involved in a long project, give your family a calendar so that they know exactly the extent of your commitment. Each night at the dinner table they can check off a day, and you can report on your progress. This way, even if it is spread over several months, they can see an end in sight and also feel a part of the process. (This idea works especially well if you have to travel. Color code the travel days on the calendar, so that everyone knows what to expect and can plan around your schedule. They can also check off the days to visually "see" how long it will be until you return.) Use fun stickers to mark special points of progress or accomplishments along the way. And don't forget to celebrate THE END!