Can my supervisor ask about my age or kids in front of coworkers?

[Anonymous]

[OneViewpoint]

What everyone else said. Your supervisor can ask anything he or she wants. You are not obliged to answer unless it's directly related to the performance of your job. Feel free to use the concept of "NO" frequently. Do it with a smile.

I have a slightly flirty but dead serious response I use in my personal life. I get approached by women a lot. I think they get curious about me because I'm an introvert who doesn't engage with other people much. So, almost invariably after some chit chat they will ask something like "do you mind if I ask you a question"? Aww shit, here it comes, she wants to dig into my background. My response is always. "Of course not. I can't stop you from asking a question. Ask me anything you want. But be aware, I may or may not choose to answer based on your question." LOL, that usually stuns them. Ah, umm, OK, uh... It's hilarious (for me). But it puts them on notice that I have boundaries and I'll enforce them.

That's basically the same attitude you need to have with questions at work that may be illegal or inappropriate. No, I'm not gonna answer that question. No apology. No explanation. Just a refusal to fall into their trap.

[Alex-Snow]

It is not something that you have to answer. In front of others is koind of rude

[Asker]

Yeah I felt a bit awkward

[Alex-Snow]

Sorry to hear you had to deal with it. It really is none of their business. Ur personal life is yours and only you get to share what you want. Hopefully your personal life is fun. Is there someone special in it currently?

[Asker]

He also stares I feel awkward

[Alex-Snow]

How old is he/she?

[Asker]

Late 30s

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s not illegal for them to ask. You can also choose not to answer

[Abbycado]

Yeah, but you don't have to answer.

[Asker]

My first few days I could feel his eyes on me so weird

[Agape93]

Yeap perfectly legal.

[Asker]

He’s the only higher up that asks these sort of thing everyone else is pretty professional

[Agape93]

Doesn't matter. He can ask it all he wants. It's conversation.

[queenofcardio]

I wouldn't answer

[Jeff51]

He shouldn't get personal

[Asker]

Yeah the previous guy before him was more professional. This new guy just stares wtf

[Jeff51]

Turn him in.

[Asker]

He’s no longer on the attendance sheet I wonder if he left

[Jeff51]

Maybe someone else had the same problems and turned him in to hr.