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Career and Kids

Responding to inappropriate questions at work

by elizabeth on April 29th, 2008

We’ve all had someone ask an inappropriate personal question at one time or another.

It even happens in the workplace, and when you’re a parent, the odds of receiving one seem to go up as people speculate endlessly on your reproductive status and your childcare plans.

So, what do you do when someone asks, “Who’s going to take care of the baby?” or “You just got married, do you plan to still be working here after you have children?”

The Washington Post’s On Balance has 10 Tips for Responding to Inappropriate Personal Questions at Work, and there’s some tips in the comments as well.

Tags: inappropriate questions at work

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James from Babyspot.com
Apr 29, 2008 at 9:01 pm

This is cool! Another one that My wife and I get a lot is wow Danny (our son) is 2 years old and family says “so when is the next one coming!!! Arrrr..well its coming shortly May 5 lol
Peter Belisi
May 2, 2008 at 9:38 am

People have lost proper etiquette, or maybe they never had it!
This Week in Babies & Kids Blogs » Smarter Babies & Kids Blog
May 2, 2008 at 10:10 am

[…] Carrer & Kids links to the Washington Post’s On Balance 10 Tips for Responding to Innappropriate Personal Questions at Work. […]
Pete Aldin
May 2, 2008 at 9:04 pm

We often get, “So you’ve only got 2 children? They’re boys? When will you try for a girl?”

I’ve developed a good response to questions like these: A blank stare that lasts until they get uncomfortable and wander away. My wife’s response is even better: “Mind your own business and leave me alone!”