This paper examines the emergence of a corporate work-family agenda into historical and organizational context. The paper discusses the forces that have influenced both the prevalence and nature of a corporate response to family concerns over time, and trends noticeable in the efforts of some companies to create family-friendly policies and programs. The paper proceeds with a theory of stages describing the evolution of companies' work-family agendas and the juncture of issues that presently define the field. The evolution of work-life initiatives is described as developing from grassroots efforts through human resources departments to culture change and work redesign. The role of the community in bringing about this evolution is considered. This discussion is intended to provide a framework for understanding the progress and likely direction of corporate initiatives in the work and family area. Two appendices present tables of the prevalence of work-family programs in companies and the four stages of evolving focus of work-life initiatives. (JPB)