If you and your spouse recently decided to call it quits on your marriage, you are likely going through a difficult time, even if you initiated it. The fact is that divorce is not easy to go through and, moreover, it can be time-consuming and affect your life in a multitude of ways. After you tell your family and close friends about your divorce, you might be wondering if it is necessary to tell your boss about your divorce as well. It might seem like unnecessary personal information, but you actually should tell your boss about it, especially since it is likely to impact your work. Additionally, you will also have to make changes to your health care plan, tax status, and other human resources paperwork.

How should you go about approaching this subject in a professional manner? Below is a list of some tips that will help you handle this conversation appropriately:

• Do not get too confessional: Just because you are telling your boss about your divorce, does not mean you need to get down into the gritty details about what went wrong and how you are feeling. Keep this discussion centered on how the divorce might impact your job and responsibilities. Tell him or her about any upcoming court dates or mediation sessions that might require you to miss time from work or affect your ability to handle a particular workload. Whatever you do, remember not to make this conversation about your marriage.

• Let your boss know what to expect: Try to provide as much information as you can regarding how the divorce could potentially affect your job. Is it a particularly nasty split and you foresee it impacting your ability to perform your duties? Be honest with your boss and let him or her know if you might need a little extra time or understanding. Just because you are getting into the details of your divorce with your boss does not mean you cannot explain that this is an emotionally difficult time for you.

• Do not use your divorce as an excuse: Hopefully, your boss will be very understanding of your situation, but do not take it for granted. Life goes on and you still need to do your job, so do not try to use your divorce as an excuse for slacking or not delivering at work. You still need to do your job, regardless of what you are going through, so try not to fall back on your situation as an excuse for why things are not getting done.

• Ask if you need to do some paperwork: As mentioned above, when your marital status changes, there is a fair amount of paperwork involved, so ask your boss about any steps you might need to take. This might mean you will have to visit your human resources department to have your information changed or updated.

Approach this conversation with a professional tone, keep it within the context of your job, and make sure you keep your boss informed about upcoming court dates or appointments to avoid any surprises.

Divorce Attorneys in Bowling Green

If you and your spouse are headed for divorce, you need to secure skilled legal representation as soon as possible to ensure the process goes smoothly and your interests are protected. At Smith & Wilcutt, LLC, our team of attorneys is backed by over 25 years of experience and an extensive track record of success.

Get started on your case today and contact our law office at (270) 972-4068 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.