and also importantly people who have family to take care of. If someone comes to me and asks for time off because they have children or partners or parents to take care off and they take that seriously that certainly deserves some respect

would make a better impression on me than someone showing up with a Patrick Bateman business card in hand

Nobody should have to even give a reason for a time off request if it's part of your work agreement.

Sure thing. But I always give reasons. That stuff builds trust.

Even silly things like "hey I'm tired and feeling down, gonna take a couple of days off" builds a lot of rapport.

And unless you're dealing with a huge asshole of a boss, it's never a problem. And if it is, you'd get warned so you can leave faster.

If I ask for time off to sit on my arse all day and play games what would you say?

Who are you, and how did you get into my kitchen?

… hopefully you would be told yes. Paid time off is a basic right in most countries.

plenty of people have families and abuse the crap out of them, and people without families that want one still need to socialize enough to meet people to eventually have a family

book != cover

We interviewed someone a while back and she said (without being asked - asking questions on this line is illegal) she was prepared to leave her husband and kids to move here. It didn't affect our results, but we all agreed in the discussion after that was a negative sign if we were allowed to consider it. She probably would have been good, I hope her search went well.

If you say that during your interview unasked, what kind of company are you looking for?…

> It didn't affect our results

I laughed - HR and legal approved this comment?