This really is the key question here. If my boss is making small talk, and asks what I did at the weekend, of course I am under no obligation to tell him. I ca

This really is the key question here. If my boss is making small talk, and asks what I did at the weekend, of course I am under no obligation to tell him. I can tell him it's none of his business, and I'm quite within my rights to do so. Some people would. But in the long run, whether it's right or wrong, not answering probably makes my life harder (passed over for promotions, etc.). So I don't ask this question from those who report to me, because I can't easily ask it in a way that doesn't seem to carry an obligation to reply. And neither I nor my boss have a gun and a pair of handcuffs.