[a_small_island]

>Beyond that, when I'm interviewing someone, I know I can't or shouldn't ask certain things, and I don't want to make people uncomfortable or break any laws. So I will often casually mention that I'm married or have a kid if the opportunity arises while we make small talk. I never tie it to a follow up question either, because that's too close to the line for me. But I'm not trying to figure out your situation there either. I'm just putting it out there that I have a life outside of here, that I'm probably going to sneak out (very) early every so often, work from home sometimes to get some other non-work stuff done too, etc. and that I won't hold it against you for being a normal person either.

This is a strange thought process. It's illegal to ask about kids/relationship status and you apparently know that. You just attempt to fish for that information because you want them to know that _you_ personally WFH and have non-work stuff in your life? Why not just describe that work culture? Seems like you are trying to find out if they have kids or a wife, otherwise I don't understand the reasoning.

[SmellTheGlove]

I'm not sure that I described it well in my post, but I don't try and fish for that information whatsoever. I don't ask any questions related to it, but I'm not shy about my own situation either if it comes up in conversation. These days many people are coached not to really ask about work life balance or to bring up anything that would prevent them from being a 100% dedicated, 24/7 employee, and I think that's pretty shitty. I can't really ask about their needs there in a way that makes me comfortable asking it, so if the conversation goes that way, I'll describe my own situation without any follow up questions.

Every company and every manager out there tries to sell people on their great company culture and work-life balance. I actually have one. I actively cultivate that internally and set team boundaries that promote having a life outside of here. It's important (to me) that candidates know that we actually do what we say we do in terms of work life balance.