You likely told your Ohio employer about your marriage, but have you told your boss about your upcoming divorce? You may want to keep the end of your marriage as private as possible, but you are going through a major life event, one that can impact your work performance.
Take a few lessons from Fast Company about how to navigate your divorce at work. Hopefully, these tips can help you come out on top professionally.
Sit down with HR
You need to talk with an HR representative about how your divorce impacts your retirement, pension, benefits and the like. Also, bear in mind how your tax bracket and withholding status may change after finalizing your divorce.
Tell your boss the truth
Do not let your boss think you are slacking because your work performance is lacking during your divorce. Just like having a child, experiencing a death in your family or any other major life event, divorce can leave you feeling unfocused and less productive at work. Let your supervisor know what is going on in your life and whether you need accommodations for things like court dates and meetings with your lawyer.
Determine how your income changes
Depending on how you anticipate your finances changing after your split, you may need to ask about getting a raise or an advance in pay. Be honest with yourself in terms of whether you can continue with your current company or position after finalizing the divorce. Your financial needs may dictate a change in companies or professions. Additionally, you may need to consider going back to school or undergoing professional training.
This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.