3 Tips on How to Handle Your Divorce at Work
Divorce can be a stressful time for the spouses, and not only in their family relationships. Oftentimes, the stress and unpleasantly at home can spill over into the workplace. You may have trouble focusing on your work, and on simply getting through the day without an emotional roller-coaster of feelings to distract you. Also, the actual divorce proceedings will demand a large amount of your time. In some cases, stress at work can also contribute to reasons for a divorce. While your divorce will undoubtedly remain emotional, there are a few things you can do to minimize the effect the divorce has on your employment.
- Be discreet in discussing your divorce with your co-workers. Although your private life should be kept private at work, and you also don’t need to tell your employer about your divorce, you should probably at least alert your boss and your human resources office to the fact that the divorce is pending. You will undoubtedly need some time off during office hours to deal with court hearings, lawyer’s consultations, and discovery matters like depositions. Many companies have policies in place for matters involving courtroom events, like trials or jury duty. Fewer work places have policies allowing for time off to consult a lawyer. Letting management know in advance may help the process of getting enough time off to attend your needs during the divorce. However, once again be careful about alerting your co-workers about your divorce. They may begin to gossip. As long as it stays in office, then it is merely irritating. If the gossip seeps out to your spouse or opposing attorney, it can begin to possibly damage your divorce case, normally in matters like the property division, or in the parenting plan. The best solution is to never tell your co-workers any detail you wouldn’t want to see repeated in court, on the witness stand, or in the news.
- Don’t make any other rash changes in your life. You may look at the divorce as a new opportunity to make all sorts of life changes. Perhaps a new job, a new career, or moving to a new place. Be patient. The time for drastic work changes, if you want to make them, will come after the divorce. In the meantime, focus on finishing the divorce itself. Maintaining the status quo will help you and your attorney reach a manageable and fair property distribution. By holding things steady and stable, you may also help persuade the court to accept your position on child custody, visitation and parenting plan issues if those are contested.
- Take care of yourself first. The stress of a divorce can harm your physical health and your mental well-being. Not only can this damage your job performance, but it can also lead to a cycle of decline in both body and mind. So, keep a regular healthy diet, exercise routine, and get plenty of sleep. That way, you can stay focused on both your job and your legal situation. If you need to consult your medical doctor for your stress, anxiety, and depression, then by all means do so.
Contact a Bradenton Divorce Lawyer for Help
For over two decades, the Law Offices of Matthew Z. Martell have been practicing divorce in Bradenton and Manatee County, Florida. If you have a divorce case in or around Sarasota, Bradenton, or Venice, Florida, then we are prepared to assist you with all of your divorce needs. If you are considering divorce, or involved in a divorce, the please contact us today for a 15 minute free initial phone consultation appointment. We are committed to providing our clients with the best professional advice and strong legal representation, while treating all parties involved in the process with professionalism and respect. We would be pleased to have the opportunity to handle divorce legal work.