Interesting, why do you loathe that question? I don't view it as a veiled attempt to get info or a way to trick the interviewer. To me, it's a specific way to

Interesting, why do you loathe that question? I don't view it as a veiled attempt to get info or a way to trick the interviewer. To me, it's a specific way to measure work life balance. Most HR departments love to preach work life balance, but if the entire team is expected to be responsive during off hours then you have a problem. When asked "how's your work life balance?" it's easy to answer "good" without much reflection. Asking specifics helps get to the reality quicker and is more likely to get specific details.