The breakdown of a marriage can be a complicated process in many ways, from making child arrangements to the stress that comes with the division of assets in a divorce. With this in mind, it’s not uncommon for a divorce to negatively impact your career, whether this involves your current job or comes further down the employment road.
Although most people can successfully separate their personal and professional lives, when it comes to something as traumatic as a divorce, it can be challenging not to let such a personal issue bleed into your work life. Preventing this is essential as it will have both short and long-term effects on your career, so it’s crucial to look for solutions rather than just hope for the best.
In this post, we’ll take a look at a few ways you can prevent a divorce from impacting your career.
Be Open with Your Employer
Due to the personal nature of a divorce, it’s natural to be hesitant or even embarrassed to discuss it with your employer. You may not need to do so if you are sufficiently balancing your work and personal life, but if you feel that the divorce is preventing you from performing to the best of your abilities, you need to be open with your employer.
Choosing to bottle it up rather than being upfront could lead to your employers assuming that inefficiency or other issues are simply due to a lack of motivation or disinterest in your work — and this should be avoided at all costs. Discussing a solution that suits both you and your employer, whether it’s reducing your workload or taking time off to deal with various aspects of your divorce, will be a massive benefit to your career in the long run.
Seek the Help of a Good Family Lawyer
Legal matters such as divorce have the potential to change lives and impact your financial standing, so you should always seek the advice and guidance of an experienced family lawyer. Ensuring that the legal professional in your corner is well-versed in a vast range of divorce scenarios is essential, as is making sure they have experience dealing with cases that involve the division of assets relating to business.
You’ll find that your best bet is to shop around for a good family lawyer who not only suits your needs but is also someone you feel comfortable with. You need to feel confident putting the future of your business in their hands. Every legal professional is different and will have a different approach to divorce cases, so it’s crucial to test the waters and take advantage of consultations (initial consultations are usually free) to see if they are a good fit for you.
Don’t Allow Your Personal Issues to Impact the Workplace
The divorce process can be stressful and generally tough to deal with, but you’ll find that it can be made a lot worse if your personal problems follow you into the workplace. People often avoid this by keeping a divorce to themselves — or only speaking to their employer about it — as it prevents your break-up from being the latest piece of gossip spread around the watercooler.
Although there’s no doubt that talking about your feelings is beneficial, doing so in the workplace can be a distraction to both yourself and others. The divorce process can make you feel as if certain aspects of your life are out of your control. It’s essential to maintain control of your professional life by continuing to work to the best of your ability, despite your difficulties outside the office.
Applying for a New Job During Divorce
Applying for a new job will undoubtedly feel like a bold move during divorce, as it will introduce another significant change to your life. Therefore, it’s vital to think carefully before you make any decisions. However, does that mean it’s impossible? No, it does not. Discussing the matter with your family lawyer will give you a good idea of if and how doing so will impact divorce proceedings. It could make the process longer, for example, which could prove to be more costly.
It’s also important to weigh up the pros and cons of the new job itself. If you have children and will be a single parent, will your new job afford you the necessary time to co-parent efficiently with your ex-partner? Will the distraction of divorce be too much to handle while learning the ropes of a new role? Will the new salary hinder your ability to cover costs such as child maintenance or make it more manageable? These are all things to consider when deciding whether it’s the best move for you right now.
