Manager & skip-level asking family net worth & house cost – normal?

[Balaji]

I'm a guy in my early 30s working at a WITCH company and I'm in an uncomfortable spot with my managers. During 1:1s and even casual chats, my manager and skip‑manager have started asking very personal questions that have nothing to do with my work. Specifically:

1. What is my family's total monthly income?
2. What is our total family net worth?
3. How much did my house cost?
4. What are my relationships with my family members like?
5. When exactly do I plan on getting married?

Has anyone faced something similar in Indian IT service companies? I was thinking of posting on LinkedIn and tagging both managers and the company, but that feels risky. Any HR folks here? Please suggest how to handle this.

[Shilpa]

Not normal – a clear red flag. Managers who ask these things are usually trying to see if you are financially vulnerable and can be exploited. If you have strong family backing you're less likely to stay in a toxic job, but those who depend on family income may feel pressured to comply. Basically they want to gauge how long you could survive under such conditions.

[Aishwarya]

Don't waste mental energy on this nonsense. Just give an average figure and move on.

[Chandni]

This is not normal; it's a red flag. You should start looking for another company.

[Arif]

If you're friendly and casual with them, such questions might appear in small talk, and it's your call what to share. But if your relationship is strictly professional and they still ask, that's a clear red flag.

[Shruti]

They might be trying to see whether you work for money or have extra cash. I'm not sure you did anything to prompt this. Do you flaunt wealth—nice cars, phones, lifestyle—that could make them curious?

[Esha]

Nope. Walk away.

[Arisha]

Never disclose your net worth to anyone outside your family, even friends. It's not normal.

[Satish]

You can simply give a low‑key answer. Keep a low profile; don't brag about a Berlin trip. You could say you stayed with your aunt's house, talk about the usual train‑seat struggle and how beautiful your village is.

[Irfan]

It feels like they're looking for targets, especially the question about family relationships. You can use ChatGPT or Gemini to craft generic replies. For example:

- Family earnings: "Just enough to get by" or "comfortable enough."
- House value: "It's a roof over my head, so priceless to me."

Polish these as needed, and if they press for numbers, say you don't know and that such questions are taboo in your family.

[Riya]

Not normal and you should take it seriously. I've experienced something similar – a manager who wasn't close to me started probing about my previous employer, whether this was my first job, etc. It felt off. I kept my answers brief and set boundaries. The next month layoffs happened and I was let go. My advice: plan your exit.