How to find an employer who is NOT child friendly?

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So this is the opposite problem that a lot of people seem to have when finding an employer. I've worked for three employers in the past who advertised themselves as "child friendly" or "family friendly", and would either allow employees to bring their children into the office or take extra time off because of their children without using the sick leave anyone else has to (for example, leaving early to pick up their children without making up the difference and making other employees pick up the slack).



I'm worried that if I ask about that kind of benefit, a company that doesn't provide them may feel I'm less of a cultural fit if they assume that I'm looking for them



When applying, I typically had no reservations about "family friendly" employers, even though I won't ever be using those benefits. The distractions and unequal workload have been a pattern I've noticed, however, and would like to avoid in future employers. That said, companies are unlikely to advertise that they won't be giving extra benefits to parents or allowing their children in the workplace.



Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there any good indication I can use?




job-search applications




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  • 1




    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – Jane S♦
    Jan 12 '16 at 1:38






  • 3




    It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
    – Chris
    Jan 12 '16 at 7:49







  • 77




    I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
    – SJuan76
    Jan 12 '16 at 8:16






  • 4




    Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
    – gnat
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:19






  • 6




    @gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
    – S. Cazorla
    Jan 12 '16 at 11:20
















up vote
53
down vote

favorite












So this is the opposite problem that a lot of people seem to have when finding an employer. I've worked for three employers in the past who advertised themselves as "child friendly" or "family friendly", and would either allow employees to bring their children into the office or take extra time off because of their children without using the sick leave anyone else has to (for example, leaving early to pick up their children without making up the difference and making other employees pick up the slack).



I'm worried that if I ask about that kind of benefit, a company that doesn't provide them may feel I'm less of a cultural fit if they assume that I'm looking for them



When applying, I typically had no reservations about "family friendly" employers, even though I won't ever be using those benefits. The distractions and unequal workload have been a pattern I've noticed, however, and would like to avoid in future employers. That said, companies are unlikely to advertise that they won't be giving extra benefits to parents or allowing their children in the workplace.



Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there any good indication I can use?




job-search applications




share|improve this question


















  • 1




    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – Jane S♦
    Jan 12 '16 at 1:38






  • 3




    It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
    – Chris
    Jan 12 '16 at 7:49







  • 77




    I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
    – SJuan76
    Jan 12 '16 at 8:16






  • 4




    Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
    – gnat
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:19






  • 6




    @gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
    – S. Cazorla
    Jan 12 '16 at 11:20












up vote
53
down vote

favorite









up vote
53
down vote

favorite











So this is the opposite problem that a lot of people seem to have when finding an employer. I've worked for three employers in the past who advertised themselves as "child friendly" or "family friendly", and would either allow employees to bring their children into the office or take extra time off because of their children without using the sick leave anyone else has to (for example, leaving early to pick up their children without making up the difference and making other employees pick up the slack).



I'm worried that if I ask about that kind of benefit, a company that doesn't provide them may feel I'm less of a cultural fit if they assume that I'm looking for them



When applying, I typically had no reservations about "family friendly" employers, even though I won't ever be using those benefits. The distractions and unequal workload have been a pattern I've noticed, however, and would like to avoid in future employers. That said, companies are unlikely to advertise that they won't be giving extra benefits to parents or allowing their children in the workplace.



Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there any good indication I can use?




job-search applications




share|improve this question














So this is the opposite problem that a lot of people seem to have when finding an employer. I've worked for three employers in the past who advertised themselves as "child friendly" or "family friendly", and would either allow employees to bring their children into the office or take extra time off because of their children without using the sick leave anyone else has to (for example, leaving early to pick up their children without making up the difference and making other employees pick up the slack).



I'm worried that if I ask about that kind of benefit, a company that doesn't provide them may feel I'm less of a cultural fit if they assume that I'm looking for them



When applying, I typically had no reservations about "family friendly" employers, even though I won't ever be using those benefits. The distractions and unequal workload have been a pattern I've noticed, however, and would like to avoid in future employers. That said, companies are unlikely to advertise that they won't be giving extra benefits to parents or allowing their children in the workplace.



Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there any good indication I can use?





job-search applications





share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 11 '16 at 20:19









Elysian Fields♦

96.7k46292449




96.7k46292449










asked Jan 11 '16 at 17:43









S. Cazorla

291137




291137







  • 1




    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – Jane S♦
    Jan 12 '16 at 1:38






  • 3




    It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
    – Chris
    Jan 12 '16 at 7:49







  • 77




    I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
    – SJuan76
    Jan 12 '16 at 8:16






  • 4




    Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
    – gnat
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:19






  • 6




    @gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
    – S. Cazorla
    Jan 12 '16 at 11:20












  • 1




    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – Jane S♦
    Jan 12 '16 at 1:38






  • 3




    It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
    – Chris
    Jan 12 '16 at 7:49







  • 77




    I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
    – SJuan76
    Jan 12 '16 at 8:16






  • 4




    Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
    – gnat
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:19






  • 6




    @gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
    – S. Cazorla
    Jan 12 '16 at 11:20







1




1




Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Jane S♦
Jan 12 '16 at 1:38




Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Jane S♦
Jan 12 '16 at 1:38




3




3




It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
– Chris
Jan 12 '16 at 7:49





It might be relevant in which country you live. Some countries have laws which e.g. allow parents to stay at home when their kids are sick.
– Chris
Jan 12 '16 at 7:49





77




77




I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
– SJuan76
Jan 12 '16 at 8:16




I think you are solving the wrong problem. The issue would not be "family friendly", but mismanagement of the "family friendly" benefits that result in not-family workers being overworked. I do not care if someone next to me gets to work X hour less because they have kids (or whatever the reason), what I care is that I am not forced more than my regular workday. I mean, only a very special kind of people would take extra steps to ensure that, if they are overworked, then people with family will be overworked too...
– SJuan76
Jan 12 '16 at 8:16




4




4




Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
– gnat
Jan 12 '16 at 9:19




Possible duplicate of What are specific ways to learn meaningful information about company culture in interviews?
– gnat
Jan 12 '16 at 9:19




6




6




@gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
– S. Cazorla
Jan 12 '16 at 11:20




@gnat I disagree. This question yielded answers about finding details of a specific, non-standard preference about culture that can be used to screen employers prior to an interview. That question has very generic answers that are more suitable for typical cultural questions - in fact, most of those answers enumerate the types of cultural questions that can be answered with their approach. None of those answers were particularly relevant or useful to me, while several of the answers to this question are.
– S. Cazorla
Jan 12 '16 at 11:20










7 Answers
7






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
20
down vote



accepted











Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this
way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there
any good indication I can use?




As you indicated, first make sure the employer doesn't proudly advertise themselves as family-friendly, or use similar words on their website. You can learn a lot about the company culture by visiting the company's careers section of their website. Here you might find a list of benefits, which could give you clues.



As others have indicated, a search for the company and the phrase "family-friendly" can yield some insight. Glassdoor is a really good source as well.



You might consider looking for companies that permit/encourage remote work. That way, you don't have to be physically located near your co-workers' children. And when working remotely, you might be in a better position to avoid having to take on the slack left by someone leaving to pick up a child. Even if the company is family-friendly, this might insulate you somewhat.



You could consider becoming a contractor. First, you aren't committing yourself to an employer for the long haul. So if you somehow find yourself in a family-friendly setting, you can just move on to the next gig. Second, if you are good, you can be selective regarding the types of contracts you take. You can ask about children, and decline the jobs where they might be around. Finally, contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others.



If family-friendliness is truly a deal-breaker for you, state your preference in your cover letter. That will obviously narrow your list of potential employers down a lot - but you are far better off getting interest from a few employers that could actually meet your needs than by getting interest from a bunch of employers who cannot.






share|improve this answer


















  • 4




    I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
    – S. Cazorla
    Jan 12 '16 at 11:14






  • 4




    "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
    – Steve Jessop
    Jan 12 '16 at 15:55











  • What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
    – camden_kid
    Jan 12 '16 at 17:50

















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34
down vote













I used the search string "Glassdoor this company is not family friendly" and the first 2 hits both were titled something like "Great company, but not family friendly".



Also on Glassdoor you can look up and display quite a number of reviews for the same company on the same page, making it easy to Ctrl+F and look up words like "family", "children", "child", "maternity" etc., use their complaints to your advantage.






share|improve this answer
















  • 52




    One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
    – Kai
    Jan 11 '16 at 19:30






  • 1




    @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
    – Pierre Arlaud
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:06






  • 11




    Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
    – user568458
    Jan 12 '16 at 9:28

















up vote
15
down vote













I would suggest looking into work as a government contractor or employee. There are many restricted/secure locations (mostly for classified work) that would definitely not allow children/families to enter under any circumstance. Many employment opportunities on military bases have the same type of restrictions.



Source: my experience as a govt contractor for 6 years.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    10
    down vote













    Many companies consider "family friendly" to be more than just taking care of children - sick spouses and aging parents are often included, for example.



    Therefore, restricting your company search to only anti-child friendly will take some work.



    That being said, a cursory google search (using these key words: most family "unfriendly" companies) found this article from 2015:



    http://fortune.com/2015/05/15/elon-musk-5-ceos-anti-family/



    Other ways: Look where the company holds its company "picnics" or gatherings - a family friendly locale? Or a bar in town? Review their benefits - do they have personal time and comp time? Most companies will "showcase" how family friendly they are.



    If that information is not advertised, they probably are not.



    Lastly, even in a family "unfriendly" environment, you still take on the risk that the immediate manager may still allow the things that you do not like, and thus, there is no way to ensure your job move will result in a better environment.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      10
      down vote













      Many job postings, particularly in programming/development positions, will give a sense of the environment itself.




      Looking for a fast-paced environment which rewards going above and beyond? We might be a good fit for you.




      Or




      We are looking for hard-working, dedicated employees who are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done right - and we compensate appropriately.




      You probably want to consider both of those - I doubt either is catering to "family friendly" employees.



      On the other hand:




      We pride ourselves in a consistent, 9-5 work schedule, with very few evenings or weekends.




      Probably not where you're looking to work, is it.



      Beyond that, though, the interview is the place to find out these things. I'm not sure I'd want to limit my job search to just places that were explicit about their family friendly policy - that probably would be too limiting. Instead, I would ask about the culture in the interview.




      What kind of work hours do most of the developers here keep?




      and




      What expectations do you have about night/weekend work?




      Both will probably give you useful information - if for no other reason than the answer you're looking for is the opposite of what most people are, so you're likely to either get an honest answer, or a dishonest answer that will dissuade you from working there. I don't think this sort of question asked neutrally would suggest you are not a cultural fit - and if you're worried about it, when you get a to-you-positive answer, you can confirm that you preferred that answer.




      Oh, that sounds great. I am a hard worker and I prefer to work with others who go above and beyond as well.







      share|improve this answer
















      • 2




        I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
        – Ashley Otero
        Jan 11 '16 at 20:51






      • 1




        I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
        – moonman239
        Jan 12 '16 at 7:29










      • "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
        – moonman239
        Jan 12 '16 at 7:35






      • 1




        @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
        – Joe
        Jan 12 '16 at 15:05

















      up vote
      3
      down vote













      It's a bit of a go to question of mine, but gives me a lot of information. I try to ask this when I am talking to someone who is interviewing me a peer, not the boss.




      Tell me what a typical day is like here




      Often times this can tell me a lot. Do people come in at 9 or 10 and work till 6 or 7 or is it more of a 7 to 4 kind of place. This could also give you an idea about the 'family friendliness' of a place. When I asked this at Google, I found most people worked until 7 o'clock or so and partook of the free dinner. This is not someplace involved parents are going to want to do and indicates a cultural fit you may enjoy.






      share|improve this answer



























        up vote
        1
        down vote













        What you really want to know is if family friendly policies will result in undue burden on yourself. Assuming you don't have some strange notion of "fairness" in not wanting parents to look after their children properly, your real concern is the effect on you.



        You can ask companies directly about this. Simply state that in the past you have been overloaded or distracted by these policies, and would like to know how this company deals with them.



        Seeking out companies that don't have a family friendly policy could easily backfire - if they don't give parents basic support, what other kinds of poor working conditions do they have? Do they account for every minute of your day, are the inflexible when you need unexpected extra time off for some reason (e.g. sick relatives, funerals etc)?






        share|improve this answer




















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          7 Answers
          7






          active

          oldest

          votes








          7 Answers
          7






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted











          Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this
          way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there
          any good indication I can use?




          As you indicated, first make sure the employer doesn't proudly advertise themselves as family-friendly, or use similar words on their website. You can learn a lot about the company culture by visiting the company's careers section of their website. Here you might find a list of benefits, which could give you clues.



          As others have indicated, a search for the company and the phrase "family-friendly" can yield some insight. Glassdoor is a really good source as well.



          You might consider looking for companies that permit/encourage remote work. That way, you don't have to be physically located near your co-workers' children. And when working remotely, you might be in a better position to avoid having to take on the slack left by someone leaving to pick up a child. Even if the company is family-friendly, this might insulate you somewhat.



          You could consider becoming a contractor. First, you aren't committing yourself to an employer for the long haul. So if you somehow find yourself in a family-friendly setting, you can just move on to the next gig. Second, if you are good, you can be selective regarding the types of contracts you take. You can ask about children, and decline the jobs where they might be around. Finally, contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others.



          If family-friendliness is truly a deal-breaker for you, state your preference in your cover letter. That will obviously narrow your list of potential employers down a lot - but you are far better off getting interest from a few employers that could actually meet your needs than by getting interest from a bunch of employers who cannot.






          share|improve this answer


















          • 4




            I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
            – S. Cazorla
            Jan 12 '16 at 11:14






          • 4




            "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
            – Steve Jessop
            Jan 12 '16 at 15:55











          • What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
            – camden_kid
            Jan 12 '16 at 17:50














          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted











          Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this
          way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there
          any good indication I can use?




          As you indicated, first make sure the employer doesn't proudly advertise themselves as family-friendly, or use similar words on their website. You can learn a lot about the company culture by visiting the company's careers section of their website. Here you might find a list of benefits, which could give you clues.



          As others have indicated, a search for the company and the phrase "family-friendly" can yield some insight. Glassdoor is a really good source as well.



          You might consider looking for companies that permit/encourage remote work. That way, you don't have to be physically located near your co-workers' children. And when working remotely, you might be in a better position to avoid having to take on the slack left by someone leaving to pick up a child. Even if the company is family-friendly, this might insulate you somewhat.



          You could consider becoming a contractor. First, you aren't committing yourself to an employer for the long haul. So if you somehow find yourself in a family-friendly setting, you can just move on to the next gig. Second, if you are good, you can be selective regarding the types of contracts you take. You can ask about children, and decline the jobs where they might be around. Finally, contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others.



          If family-friendliness is truly a deal-breaker for you, state your preference in your cover letter. That will obviously narrow your list of potential employers down a lot - but you are far better off getting interest from a few employers that could actually meet your needs than by getting interest from a bunch of employers who cannot.






          share|improve this answer


















          • 4




            I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
            – S. Cazorla
            Jan 12 '16 at 11:14






          • 4




            "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
            – Steve Jessop
            Jan 12 '16 at 15:55











          • What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
            – camden_kid
            Jan 12 '16 at 17:50












          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted







          Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this
          way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there
          any good indication I can use?




          As you indicated, first make sure the employer doesn't proudly advertise themselves as family-friendly, or use similar words on their website. You can learn a lot about the company culture by visiting the company's careers section of their website. Here you might find a list of benefits, which could give you clues.



          As others have indicated, a search for the company and the phrase "family-friendly" can yield some insight. Glassdoor is a really good source as well.



          You might consider looking for companies that permit/encourage remote work. That way, you don't have to be physically located near your co-workers' children. And when working remotely, you might be in a better position to avoid having to take on the slack left by someone leaving to pick up a child. Even if the company is family-friendly, this might insulate you somewhat.



          You could consider becoming a contractor. First, you aren't committing yourself to an employer for the long haul. So if you somehow find yourself in a family-friendly setting, you can just move on to the next gig. Second, if you are good, you can be selective regarding the types of contracts you take. You can ask about children, and decline the jobs where they might be around. Finally, contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others.



          If family-friendliness is truly a deal-breaker for you, state your preference in your cover letter. That will obviously narrow your list of potential employers down a lot - but you are far better off getting interest from a few employers that could actually meet your needs than by getting interest from a bunch of employers who cannot.






          share|improve this answer















          Except for assuming a workplace that doesn't advertise themselves this
          way is more in line with my desires, which seems unreliable, is there
          any good indication I can use?




          As you indicated, first make sure the employer doesn't proudly advertise themselves as family-friendly, or use similar words on their website. You can learn a lot about the company culture by visiting the company's careers section of their website. Here you might find a list of benefits, which could give you clues.



          As others have indicated, a search for the company and the phrase "family-friendly" can yield some insight. Glassdoor is a really good source as well.



          You might consider looking for companies that permit/encourage remote work. That way, you don't have to be physically located near your co-workers' children. And when working remotely, you might be in a better position to avoid having to take on the slack left by someone leaving to pick up a child. Even if the company is family-friendly, this might insulate you somewhat.



          You could consider becoming a contractor. First, you aren't committing yourself to an employer for the long haul. So if you somehow find yourself in a family-friendly setting, you can just move on to the next gig. Second, if you are good, you can be selective regarding the types of contracts you take. You can ask about children, and decline the jobs where they might be around. Finally, contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others.



          If family-friendliness is truly a deal-breaker for you, state your preference in your cover letter. That will obviously narrow your list of potential employers down a lot - but you are far better off getting interest from a few employers that could actually meet your needs than by getting interest from a bunch of employers who cannot.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Jan 11 '16 at 19:47

























          answered Jan 11 '16 at 19:38









          Joe Strazzere

          222k103650917




          222k103650917







          • 4




            I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
            – S. Cazorla
            Jan 12 '16 at 11:14






          • 4




            "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
            – Steve Jessop
            Jan 12 '16 at 15:55











          • What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
            – camden_kid
            Jan 12 '16 at 17:50












          • 4




            I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
            – S. Cazorla
            Jan 12 '16 at 11:14






          • 4




            "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
            – Steve Jessop
            Jan 12 '16 at 15:55











          • What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
            – camden_kid
            Jan 12 '16 at 17:50







          4




          4




          I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
          – S. Cazorla
          Jan 12 '16 at 11:14




          I feel this answer is the most useful in that it provides a variety of methods to help determine whether a prospective employer meets my preferences without limiting itself to any one approach that may be less effective. That the answer doesn't take up half its space trying to convince readers that the stated preferences are wrong is an added benefit.
          – S. Cazorla
          Jan 12 '16 at 11:14




          4




          4




          "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
          – Steve Jessop
          Jan 12 '16 at 15:55





          "contractors are seldom required to "pick up the slack" for others." -- at any rate contractors are usually paid to pick up the slack for others if that's what they're doing ;-) Hourly billing ftw.
          – Steve Jessop
          Jan 12 '16 at 15:55













          What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
          – camden_kid
          Jan 12 '16 at 17:50




          What would be the best way to word the preference stated in the last paragraph?
          – camden_kid
          Jan 12 '16 at 17:50












          up vote
          34
          down vote













          I used the search string "Glassdoor this company is not family friendly" and the first 2 hits both were titled something like "Great company, but not family friendly".



          Also on Glassdoor you can look up and display quite a number of reviews for the same company on the same page, making it easy to Ctrl+F and look up words like "family", "children", "child", "maternity" etc., use their complaints to your advantage.






          share|improve this answer
















          • 52




            One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
            – Kai
            Jan 11 '16 at 19:30






          • 1




            @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
            – Pierre Arlaud
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:06






          • 11




            Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
            – user568458
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:28














          up vote
          34
          down vote













          I used the search string "Glassdoor this company is not family friendly" and the first 2 hits both were titled something like "Great company, but not family friendly".



          Also on Glassdoor you can look up and display quite a number of reviews for the same company on the same page, making it easy to Ctrl+F and look up words like "family", "children", "child", "maternity" etc., use their complaints to your advantage.






          share|improve this answer
















          • 52




            One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
            – Kai
            Jan 11 '16 at 19:30






          • 1




            @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
            – Pierre Arlaud
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:06






          • 11




            Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
            – user568458
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:28












          up vote
          34
          down vote










          up vote
          34
          down vote









          I used the search string "Glassdoor this company is not family friendly" and the first 2 hits both were titled something like "Great company, but not family friendly".



          Also on Glassdoor you can look up and display quite a number of reviews for the same company on the same page, making it easy to Ctrl+F and look up words like "family", "children", "child", "maternity" etc., use their complaints to your advantage.






          share|improve this answer












          I used the search string "Glassdoor this company is not family friendly" and the first 2 hits both were titled something like "Great company, but not family friendly".



          Also on Glassdoor you can look up and display quite a number of reviews for the same company on the same page, making it easy to Ctrl+F and look up words like "family", "children", "child", "maternity" etc., use their complaints to your advantage.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 11 '16 at 18:02









          HireThisMarine

          9641817




          9641817







          • 52




            One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
            – Kai
            Jan 11 '16 at 19:30






          • 1




            @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
            – Pierre Arlaud
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:06






          • 11




            Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
            – user568458
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:28












          • 52




            One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
            – Kai
            Jan 11 '16 at 19:30






          • 1




            @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
            – Pierre Arlaud
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:06






          • 11




            Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
            – user568458
            Jan 12 '16 at 9:28







          52




          52




          One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
          – Kai
          Jan 11 '16 at 19:30




          One caveat: I'd be concerned that companies that people complain aren't "family friendly" could have other underlying culture issues. There's a difference between not being actively family friendly, and being completely alienating to people with families, the latter being the more likely scenario when people are complaining, "not family friendly."
          – Kai
          Jan 11 '16 at 19:30




          1




          1




          @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
          – Pierre Arlaud
          Jan 12 '16 at 9:06




          @Kai true enough but if you assume nobody's perfect, finding someone with the flaws that bother you the least is the way to go, isn't it?
          – Pierre Arlaud
          Jan 12 '16 at 9:06




          11




          11




          Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
          – user568458
          Jan 12 '16 at 9:28




          Suggested improvement to search string: site:Glassdoor.com "not family friendly", then add industry/company specifics. Though like @Kai says, be aware that "not family friendly" doesn't only mean not accommodating people with children, it can also mean, for example, sacking or blocking staff who want to attend family funerals or other family emergencies... "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"
          – user568458
          Jan 12 '16 at 9:28










          up vote
          15
          down vote













          I would suggest looking into work as a government contractor or employee. There are many restricted/secure locations (mostly for classified work) that would definitely not allow children/families to enter under any circumstance. Many employment opportunities on military bases have the same type of restrictions.



          Source: my experience as a govt contractor for 6 years.






          share|improve this answer
























            up vote
            15
            down vote













            I would suggest looking into work as a government contractor or employee. There are many restricted/secure locations (mostly for classified work) that would definitely not allow children/families to enter under any circumstance. Many employment opportunities on military bases have the same type of restrictions.



            Source: my experience as a govt contractor for 6 years.






            share|improve this answer






















              up vote
              15
              down vote










              up vote
              15
              down vote









              I would suggest looking into work as a government contractor or employee. There are many restricted/secure locations (mostly for classified work) that would definitely not allow children/families to enter under any circumstance. Many employment opportunities on military bases have the same type of restrictions.



              Source: my experience as a govt contractor for 6 years.






              share|improve this answer












              I would suggest looking into work as a government contractor or employee. There are many restricted/secure locations (mostly for classified work) that would definitely not allow children/families to enter under any circumstance. Many employment opportunities on military bases have the same type of restrictions.



              Source: my experience as a govt contractor for 6 years.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Jan 11 '16 at 19:57









              Ashley Otero

              33913




              33913




















                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote













                  Many companies consider "family friendly" to be more than just taking care of children - sick spouses and aging parents are often included, for example.



                  Therefore, restricting your company search to only anti-child friendly will take some work.



                  That being said, a cursory google search (using these key words: most family "unfriendly" companies) found this article from 2015:



                  http://fortune.com/2015/05/15/elon-musk-5-ceos-anti-family/



                  Other ways: Look where the company holds its company "picnics" or gatherings - a family friendly locale? Or a bar in town? Review their benefits - do they have personal time and comp time? Most companies will "showcase" how family friendly they are.



                  If that information is not advertised, they probably are not.



                  Lastly, even in a family "unfriendly" environment, you still take on the risk that the immediate manager may still allow the things that you do not like, and thus, there is no way to ensure your job move will result in a better environment.






                  share|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    10
                    down vote













                    Many companies consider "family friendly" to be more than just taking care of children - sick spouses and aging parents are often included, for example.



                    Therefore, restricting your company search to only anti-child friendly will take some work.



                    That being said, a cursory google search (using these key words: most family "unfriendly" companies) found this article from 2015:



                    http://fortune.com/2015/05/15/elon-musk-5-ceos-anti-family/



                    Other ways: Look where the company holds its company "picnics" or gatherings - a family friendly locale? Or a bar in town? Review their benefits - do they have personal time and comp time? Most companies will "showcase" how family friendly they are.



                    If that information is not advertised, they probably are not.



                    Lastly, even in a family "unfriendly" environment, you still take on the risk that the immediate manager may still allow the things that you do not like, and thus, there is no way to ensure your job move will result in a better environment.






                    share|improve this answer






















                      up vote
                      10
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      10
                      down vote









                      Many companies consider "family friendly" to be more than just taking care of children - sick spouses and aging parents are often included, for example.



                      Therefore, restricting your company search to only anti-child friendly will take some work.



                      That being said, a cursory google search (using these key words: most family "unfriendly" companies) found this article from 2015:



                      http://fortune.com/2015/05/15/elon-musk-5-ceos-anti-family/



                      Other ways: Look where the company holds its company "picnics" or gatherings - a family friendly locale? Or a bar in town? Review their benefits - do they have personal time and comp time? Most companies will "showcase" how family friendly they are.



                      If that information is not advertised, they probably are not.



                      Lastly, even in a family "unfriendly" environment, you still take on the risk that the immediate manager may still allow the things that you do not like, and thus, there is no way to ensure your job move will result in a better environment.






                      share|improve this answer












                      Many companies consider "family friendly" to be more than just taking care of children - sick spouses and aging parents are often included, for example.



                      Therefore, restricting your company search to only anti-child friendly will take some work.



                      That being said, a cursory google search (using these key words: most family "unfriendly" companies) found this article from 2015:



                      http://fortune.com/2015/05/15/elon-musk-5-ceos-anti-family/



                      Other ways: Look where the company holds its company "picnics" or gatherings - a family friendly locale? Or a bar in town? Review their benefits - do they have personal time and comp time? Most companies will "showcase" how family friendly they are.



                      If that information is not advertised, they probably are not.



                      Lastly, even in a family "unfriendly" environment, you still take on the risk that the immediate manager may still allow the things that you do not like, and thus, there is no way to ensure your job move will result in a better environment.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Jan 11 '16 at 19:00







                      user45269



























                          up vote
                          10
                          down vote













                          Many job postings, particularly in programming/development positions, will give a sense of the environment itself.




                          Looking for a fast-paced environment which rewards going above and beyond? We might be a good fit for you.




                          Or




                          We are looking for hard-working, dedicated employees who are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done right - and we compensate appropriately.




                          You probably want to consider both of those - I doubt either is catering to "family friendly" employees.



                          On the other hand:




                          We pride ourselves in a consistent, 9-5 work schedule, with very few evenings or weekends.




                          Probably not where you're looking to work, is it.



                          Beyond that, though, the interview is the place to find out these things. I'm not sure I'd want to limit my job search to just places that were explicit about their family friendly policy - that probably would be too limiting. Instead, I would ask about the culture in the interview.




                          What kind of work hours do most of the developers here keep?




                          and




                          What expectations do you have about night/weekend work?




                          Both will probably give you useful information - if for no other reason than the answer you're looking for is the opposite of what most people are, so you're likely to either get an honest answer, or a dishonest answer that will dissuade you from working there. I don't think this sort of question asked neutrally would suggest you are not a cultural fit - and if you're worried about it, when you get a to-you-positive answer, you can confirm that you preferred that answer.




                          Oh, that sounds great. I am a hard worker and I prefer to work with others who go above and beyond as well.







                          share|improve this answer
















                          • 2




                            I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                            – Ashley Otero
                            Jan 11 '16 at 20:51






                          • 1




                            I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:29










                          • "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:35






                          • 1




                            @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                            – Joe
                            Jan 12 '16 at 15:05














                          up vote
                          10
                          down vote













                          Many job postings, particularly in programming/development positions, will give a sense of the environment itself.




                          Looking for a fast-paced environment which rewards going above and beyond? We might be a good fit for you.




                          Or




                          We are looking for hard-working, dedicated employees who are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done right - and we compensate appropriately.




                          You probably want to consider both of those - I doubt either is catering to "family friendly" employees.



                          On the other hand:




                          We pride ourselves in a consistent, 9-5 work schedule, with very few evenings or weekends.




                          Probably not where you're looking to work, is it.



                          Beyond that, though, the interview is the place to find out these things. I'm not sure I'd want to limit my job search to just places that were explicit about their family friendly policy - that probably would be too limiting. Instead, I would ask about the culture in the interview.




                          What kind of work hours do most of the developers here keep?




                          and




                          What expectations do you have about night/weekend work?




                          Both will probably give you useful information - if for no other reason than the answer you're looking for is the opposite of what most people are, so you're likely to either get an honest answer, or a dishonest answer that will dissuade you from working there. I don't think this sort of question asked neutrally would suggest you are not a cultural fit - and if you're worried about it, when you get a to-you-positive answer, you can confirm that you preferred that answer.




                          Oh, that sounds great. I am a hard worker and I prefer to work with others who go above and beyond as well.







                          share|improve this answer
















                          • 2




                            I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                            – Ashley Otero
                            Jan 11 '16 at 20:51






                          • 1




                            I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:29










                          • "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:35






                          • 1




                            @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                            – Joe
                            Jan 12 '16 at 15:05












                          up vote
                          10
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          10
                          down vote









                          Many job postings, particularly in programming/development positions, will give a sense of the environment itself.




                          Looking for a fast-paced environment which rewards going above and beyond? We might be a good fit for you.




                          Or




                          We are looking for hard-working, dedicated employees who are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done right - and we compensate appropriately.




                          You probably want to consider both of those - I doubt either is catering to "family friendly" employees.



                          On the other hand:




                          We pride ourselves in a consistent, 9-5 work schedule, with very few evenings or weekends.




                          Probably not where you're looking to work, is it.



                          Beyond that, though, the interview is the place to find out these things. I'm not sure I'd want to limit my job search to just places that were explicit about their family friendly policy - that probably would be too limiting. Instead, I would ask about the culture in the interview.




                          What kind of work hours do most of the developers here keep?




                          and




                          What expectations do you have about night/weekend work?




                          Both will probably give you useful information - if for no other reason than the answer you're looking for is the opposite of what most people are, so you're likely to either get an honest answer, or a dishonest answer that will dissuade you from working there. I don't think this sort of question asked neutrally would suggest you are not a cultural fit - and if you're worried about it, when you get a to-you-positive answer, you can confirm that you preferred that answer.




                          Oh, that sounds great. I am a hard worker and I prefer to work with others who go above and beyond as well.







                          share|improve this answer












                          Many job postings, particularly in programming/development positions, will give a sense of the environment itself.




                          Looking for a fast-paced environment which rewards going above and beyond? We might be a good fit for you.




                          Or




                          We are looking for hard-working, dedicated employees who are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done right - and we compensate appropriately.




                          You probably want to consider both of those - I doubt either is catering to "family friendly" employees.



                          On the other hand:




                          We pride ourselves in a consistent, 9-5 work schedule, with very few evenings or weekends.




                          Probably not where you're looking to work, is it.



                          Beyond that, though, the interview is the place to find out these things. I'm not sure I'd want to limit my job search to just places that were explicit about their family friendly policy - that probably would be too limiting. Instead, I would ask about the culture in the interview.




                          What kind of work hours do most of the developers here keep?




                          and




                          What expectations do you have about night/weekend work?




                          Both will probably give you useful information - if for no other reason than the answer you're looking for is the opposite of what most people are, so you're likely to either get an honest answer, or a dishonest answer that will dissuade you from working there. I don't think this sort of question asked neutrally would suggest you are not a cultural fit - and if you're worried about it, when you get a to-you-positive answer, you can confirm that you preferred that answer.




                          Oh, that sounds great. I am a hard worker and I prefer to work with others who go above and beyond as well.








                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Jan 11 '16 at 20:43









                          Joe

                          8,0122046




                          8,0122046







                          • 2




                            I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                            – Ashley Otero
                            Jan 11 '16 at 20:51






                          • 1




                            I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:29










                          • "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:35






                          • 1




                            @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                            – Joe
                            Jan 12 '16 at 15:05












                          • 2




                            I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                            – Ashley Otero
                            Jan 11 '16 at 20:51






                          • 1




                            I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:29










                          • "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                            – moonman239
                            Jan 12 '16 at 7:35






                          • 1




                            @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                            – Joe
                            Jan 12 '16 at 15:05







                          2




                          2




                          I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                          – Ashley Otero
                          Jan 11 '16 at 20:51




                          I almost suggested something similar to this, however, I feel like OP still probably wants a decent work/life balance just without the potential for rando coworker kids hanging around.
                          – Ashley Otero
                          Jan 11 '16 at 20:51




                          1




                          1




                          I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                          – moonman239
                          Jan 12 '16 at 7:29




                          I'm not in the workforce, but I'm not sure these questions are really what OP'd want to ask. I'd probably ask something like, "Does your company allow employees to bring their children into the work area?" and "
                          – moonman239
                          Jan 12 '16 at 7:29












                          "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                          – moonman239
                          Jan 12 '16 at 7:35




                          "Are all employees expected to perform the same amount of work?" or "Are employees required to follow company leave policies if they wish to take leave for any reason not covered by applicable laws (e.g FMLA)?"
                          – moonman239
                          Jan 12 '16 at 7:35




                          1




                          1




                          @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                          – Joe
                          Jan 12 '16 at 15:05




                          @moonman239 The point is to not ask exactly those questions, but questions that will give you answers that give you the answer nonetheless. Asking those questions will likely not get you a useful answer - and make you sound like a bit of a crank.
                          – Joe
                          Jan 12 '16 at 15:05










                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          It's a bit of a go to question of mine, but gives me a lot of information. I try to ask this when I am talking to someone who is interviewing me a peer, not the boss.




                          Tell me what a typical day is like here




                          Often times this can tell me a lot. Do people come in at 9 or 10 and work till 6 or 7 or is it more of a 7 to 4 kind of place. This could also give you an idea about the 'family friendliness' of a place. When I asked this at Google, I found most people worked until 7 o'clock or so and partook of the free dinner. This is not someplace involved parents are going to want to do and indicates a cultural fit you may enjoy.






                          share|improve this answer
























                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote













                            It's a bit of a go to question of mine, but gives me a lot of information. I try to ask this when I am talking to someone who is interviewing me a peer, not the boss.




                            Tell me what a typical day is like here




                            Often times this can tell me a lot. Do people come in at 9 or 10 and work till 6 or 7 or is it more of a 7 to 4 kind of place. This could also give you an idea about the 'family friendliness' of a place. When I asked this at Google, I found most people worked until 7 o'clock or so and partook of the free dinner. This is not someplace involved parents are going to want to do and indicates a cultural fit you may enjoy.






                            share|improve this answer






















                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote









                              It's a bit of a go to question of mine, but gives me a lot of information. I try to ask this when I am talking to someone who is interviewing me a peer, not the boss.




                              Tell me what a typical day is like here




                              Often times this can tell me a lot. Do people come in at 9 or 10 and work till 6 or 7 or is it more of a 7 to 4 kind of place. This could also give you an idea about the 'family friendliness' of a place. When I asked this at Google, I found most people worked until 7 o'clock or so and partook of the free dinner. This is not someplace involved parents are going to want to do and indicates a cultural fit you may enjoy.






                              share|improve this answer












                              It's a bit of a go to question of mine, but gives me a lot of information. I try to ask this when I am talking to someone who is interviewing me a peer, not the boss.




                              Tell me what a typical day is like here




                              Often times this can tell me a lot. Do people come in at 9 or 10 and work till 6 or 7 or is it more of a 7 to 4 kind of place. This could also give you an idea about the 'family friendliness' of a place. When I asked this at Google, I found most people worked until 7 o'clock or so and partook of the free dinner. This is not someplace involved parents are going to want to do and indicates a cultural fit you may enjoy.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Jan 11 '16 at 22:41









                              Bill Leeper

                              10.5k2735




                              10.5k2735




















                                  up vote
                                  1
                                  down vote













                                  What you really want to know is if family friendly policies will result in undue burden on yourself. Assuming you don't have some strange notion of "fairness" in not wanting parents to look after their children properly, your real concern is the effect on you.



                                  You can ask companies directly about this. Simply state that in the past you have been overloaded or distracted by these policies, and would like to know how this company deals with them.



                                  Seeking out companies that don't have a family friendly policy could easily backfire - if they don't give parents basic support, what other kinds of poor working conditions do they have? Do they account for every minute of your day, are the inflexible when you need unexpected extra time off for some reason (e.g. sick relatives, funerals etc)?






                                  share|improve this answer
























                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    What you really want to know is if family friendly policies will result in undue burden on yourself. Assuming you don't have some strange notion of "fairness" in not wanting parents to look after their children properly, your real concern is the effect on you.



                                    You can ask companies directly about this. Simply state that in the past you have been overloaded or distracted by these policies, and would like to know how this company deals with them.



                                    Seeking out companies that don't have a family friendly policy could easily backfire - if they don't give parents basic support, what other kinds of poor working conditions do they have? Do they account for every minute of your day, are the inflexible when you need unexpected extra time off for some reason (e.g. sick relatives, funerals etc)?






                                    share|improve this answer






















                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote









                                      What you really want to know is if family friendly policies will result in undue burden on yourself. Assuming you don't have some strange notion of "fairness" in not wanting parents to look after their children properly, your real concern is the effect on you.



                                      You can ask companies directly about this. Simply state that in the past you have been overloaded or distracted by these policies, and would like to know how this company deals with them.



                                      Seeking out companies that don't have a family friendly policy could easily backfire - if they don't give parents basic support, what other kinds of poor working conditions do they have? Do they account for every minute of your day, are the inflexible when you need unexpected extra time off for some reason (e.g. sick relatives, funerals etc)?






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      What you really want to know is if family friendly policies will result in undue burden on yourself. Assuming you don't have some strange notion of "fairness" in not wanting parents to look after their children properly, your real concern is the effect on you.



                                      You can ask companies directly about this. Simply state that in the past you have been overloaded or distracted by these policies, and would like to know how this company deals with them.



                                      Seeking out companies that don't have a family friendly policy could easily backfire - if they don't give parents basic support, what other kinds of poor working conditions do they have? Do they account for every minute of your day, are the inflexible when you need unexpected extra time off for some reason (e.g. sick relatives, funerals etc)?







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered May 31 at 12:26









                                      user

                                      1,9661715




                                      1,9661715






















                                           

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