Divorce is a time-consuming process, and many people worry about taking too much time off work for their divorce. They might be concerned about underperforming, about their co-workers knowing too much of their personal life, or even about workplace discrimination because of their divorce.
Divorce can't be rushed
You can’t get around the fact that a divorce takes time. Tasks you may find yourself doing include preparing paperwork, finding a process server, serving paperwork, filling out financial disclosures, negotiating with your spouse or their lawyer, interacting with a mediator, attending hearings, and other divorce proceedings. On top of that, it’s imperative that you care for your own well-being during this stressful time.
The divorce process isn’t quick, either. In some states, the required waiting period stretches over many months.
Divorce takes mental energy
There’s also the emotional turmoil that often accompanies divorce. The various emotional stages you go through can make it difficult to focus on, well, everything – from the divorce process itself to your work duties and possible childcare duties.
Overwhelm sets in quite easily in divorce, and it‘s not hard to see why.
It’s important to prepare for the time commitment required by divorce. Plan to lean on family, friends, and other resources as needed.
How you can take control of the situation
As you begin the divorce process, you may be concerned about how it will impact your work life. To help keep good relations with your boss and stay on top of your to-do list during this difficult time, consider the following tips:
1. Decide whether to share your divorce information
Because it can be so difficult to balance personal and professional obligations – especially if you need to take time off work for court hearings or related activities – you might decide to tell your supervisor what’s going on. There are pros and cons to doing this.
If you have a flexible and understanding boss, sharing your divorce circumstances with them can give you a major advantage. Your boss may be willing to offer you more time off or to accommodate schedule changes as needed. They might also give you a little more leniency at work in terms of your performance, behavior, and attendance. For example, if you needed to attend a hearing and the judge’s calendar was backed up for several months – but they suddenly had a last-minute opening for you – your boss would be more likely to grant you the time off.
However, there are potential downsides to sharing your divorce news with your boss. They might not respond well to the news, or they might harbor negative feelings toward you because of it. If you feel your boss would react this way, it might be better to keep information private.
That said, if your boss isn't aware of your divorce, it could be difficult for you to take time off without much notice – even if you were to use paid time off (PTO). Many companies ask for two weeks’ notice before taking PTO. This could limit the speed at which your divorce progresses.
Establish clear priorities for what needs to get done at work
Which work tasks must be accomplished right away, and which tasks can sit on the back burner for a while? Determine your top work priorities, and communicate them to your boss. They’ll see you’re being thoughtful about your job, which is always a good thing. And you’ll be able to focus on what’s most important at work and what’s most important in your personal life.
Try to be flexible with your schedule and availability
If possible, consider working from home so you can take time during the day to tend to important divorce matters. Put in time on nights or weekends to make up for it if you need to. A flexible schedule will allow you to keep up with your regular workload without having to take too much time off work.
Reach out for support from trusted colleagues and friends
You may find that the people closest to you, whether work colleagues or friends, are more than willing to help you shoulder some of your day-to-day responsibilities while you focus on your divorce. A colleague at work may be willing to assist you with tasks on your to-do list. A friend outside of work may be willing to help you with errands like picking up the kids from school or picking up groceries at the end of a long day.
Consider online divorce
Online divorce can save you time, and time is gold for you right now as you try to balance this huge life change and legal process with your professional life.
Hello Divorce provides online services that can help streamline and simplify your divorce process. Our online platform guides you through each step so you know exactly what to do. You also get the human touch from your dedicated account coordinator, who is there to answer your questions and remove tasks from your plate so you have time for the other priorities in your life. With our Pro, Plus, and Mediation plans, your account coordinator will even file and serve your paperwork for you.
What’s more, you’ll never be “stuck” in one of our plans; you can upgrade or downgrade at any time. For example, you could begin with our most budget-friendly DIY plan and upgrade later if you realize you need more support and guidance.
Interested in learning more? Learn about the Hello Divorce for Employers benefits program. Click here to view our calendar and schedule a free 15-minute phone call with an account coordinator.
