[thegrasshopper2]

I assume the "problems at home" are the ones affecting work performance. It's very difficult to keep productivity up, especially in a creative / complex field like programming, if one's mind is filled with other thoughts.

This works especially well if the person doesn't want to take vacation, or cannot, for one reason or another, and can also be in the form you state (I have to deal with stuff, I need a bit of slack at work). Not everybody is comfortable saying even that in a "team" setting.

[jeppester]

Exactly. I wouldn't ask specifically if someone had a problem at home. I asked how they were doing and then I used whatever they told me to try and improve/ease their situation.

It's not easy for everyone to ask for extra flexibility or time off. When you have this open conversation space, that one-on-ones provide, it becomes very natural to make room for people's lives.