How do you find an employer who recognizes you have a (gasp) life outside of work?  Without a doubt, the single most important factor in finding and maintaining a good work-life balance is an understanding boss.  

As anyone who has worked for an allegedly family-friendly company will tell you, all the wonderful company policies in the world mean nothing unless your immediate boss is willing to put those policies into effect. To help you separate the genuine good guys from the “let’s pay lip service to these policies but ignore them in practice” bosses, here are five key questions to ask next time you go out and interview:

1. In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?   Listen for an answer that includes references to work-life balance or a friendly corporate culture.  Be wary of alleged “perks” (i.e., catered lunches, on-site dry cleaners) that could indicate the company expects you to consider your office your home.
    
2. What do you enjoy most about working here? This is always a good question because people love to talk about themselves.  It’s also a wonderful way to learn more about the corporate culture without seeming overly eager to hear about options for flexibility.  Listen for a response that includes quality of life issues.
    
3. What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem to share? Listen carefully to determine if the answer indicates only the diehard worker bees are rewarded. Is any emphasis placed on promoting people who work at developing their staff and help to create a positive working environment?  Does your prospective boss speak kindly of her direct reports or does she spend more time talking about herself?
    
4. What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position?  Try to determine if there is more emphasis placed on accomplishments than” face time”.  Is your manager willing to allow you the freedom to determine how to get a job done even if that means occasionally substituting working from home in lieu of going to the office?
    
5. What is the largest single problem facing your staff (department) now?   In general, requests for flexible schedules don’t fare well in chaotic situations that require everybody to be firefighters.  Analyze their response carefully to determine if somebody working a flexible schedule can reasonably accommodate the challenges facing the business.

Lastly, remember a picture can be worth a thousand words.  Look for photos of families or pets – are they prominently displayed?  Do people have knick-knacks on their desks that give you a feeling that real people work here or is the office sterile and lacking in personality?  Picking up on the visual cues in the office can speak volumes about the workplace culture.

Do you want to learn more about flexible work options?  Take a look at our special e-publication: 

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