Must Be Nice…

"When do you plan to return to your career?"

This implies that one should have a solid plan mapped out, when in reality, this economy leaves many people struggling to figure out the immediate future. Moms who've put their careers on hold worry about whether they'll be able to get a job when they're ready to return to the workforce—and they don't need someone reminding them that the future's uncertain. "Asking when also implies that staying home is a temporary detour, when it might not be for that person," notes Steiner. It's better to ask if a woman is interested in returning to her previous career, not when.