Navigating divorce on a personal level may be one of life’s most difficult challenges. Concerns about your self-worth, finances and children come to the forefront. However, a divorce also can affect your professional life.
Some people may even take this aspect for granted. For example, your job performance may take a hit. Now is the time to review what is happening in your life and the ways to address how divorce changes things.
Tell your manager and take care of yourself
Here are some of the steps to take and consider when trying to balance your work life with divorce-related matters.
- Inform your manager: Do so before telling coworkers. Keep the explanation simple and avoid unnecessary detail. Ensure your manager that you will maintain your work level, but that you may need certain accommodations such as a more flexible schedule stemming from court dates, calls and meetings with your attorney and child-related matters.
- Inform your human resources representative: You want to learn about your options and changes related to health insurance coverage and premiums, life and disability insurance and, significantly your retirement and pension plans.
- Reevaluate your earnings: With divorce, you may have to pay alimony and child support. Expect your earnings to take a hit, so you must consider professional goals that would help you earn income. Talk to your boss about advancement opportunities, consider joining another company, start a side hustle and even return to school to switch careers.
- Take care of your mental and physical health: Start new workday habits. They may include healthier eating, going to the gym at lunch and taking short daily walks. Do your best not to talk with your attorney during the workday or disclose divorce-related details to coworkers.
Any of these steps may help you when separation and divorce looms. But remember that every person going through a divorce experiences things differently.
Protect this stable part of your life
Ideally, you want your job and career to serve as a safe haven from the stressful goings-on related to separation and divorce. Do your best to protect this stable part of your life.