Divorce is a very personal topic, but despite the private nature of it, it would be a good idea to have a conversation with your boss regarding this major life change. Of course, it is not required, but it will be helpful to keep your boss informed since you will likely have to miss some time from work to attend mediation sessions or court dates. Keeping your boss in the know will ensure you do not appear to be lacking in commitment to your work, but rather you are going through a difficult time.
TIPS TO GET THROUGH THE CONVERSATION
Discussing a personal matter in a professional context can be somewhat challenging. However, it will not do you any favors to get overly personal in a workplace environment, so you will need to approach this conversation with tact and skill.
Here are some tips that will help you professionally conduct yourself as you inform your boss about your divorce:
- Tell your boss what he or she needs to know: Your boss does not need to know why you are getting divorced, what went wrong, or how your spouse wronged you. Instead, your boss needs to know how this event will impact your ability to be productive or if it will affect your schedule. Focusing on these professional details will help ensure you do not delve into the personal details.
- Tell your boss what to expect: If you can provide scheduled court dates or mediation sessions, this would be an immense help since it will help your boss know what to expect in the near future. If your divorce is particularly challenging and you are emotionally overwhelmed, you can admit this to your boss without discussing the details or why this is a difficult time for you. Hopefully, your boss will give you the extra time or understanding you need.
- Do not slack off on the job: Although your boss should try to give you a little extra understanding, that does not mean you will be able to get away with failing to do your job. A divorce is not an easy experience to endure, but the world still turns and there are still certain expectations you must meet, so do not abuse the compassion of your boss by hiding behind your divorce as a reason for why you are becoming a bad employee.
- Complete your paperwork: A ton of paperwork is involved in the divorce process, so you should either ask your boss or, if you have one, a human resources representative about any paperwork that requires updates due to the changes in your marital status, such as your tax information and health care information.
As long as you stay away from any overly personal details of what led to your divorce, you should be able to professionally and skillfully navigate your way through this conversation with your boss.
CONTACT A COMPASSIONATE DIVORCE ATTORNEY TODAY!
If you are going through a divorce, you should not do so without the assistance of an experienced divorce attorney. At Bez Law Firm, P.C., our divorce team has the insight and knowledge to guide you through this process. In fact, our team is backed by over two decades of collective experience in the field.
Contact our office today at (916) 512-8944 to schedule a confidential case review with a member of our team.