What Should You Say At Work About Your Divorce?
Being employed while your divorce is pending can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the routine of your workday can give you a much-needed sense of normalcy when almost everything else in your life is in flux. It can also give you some much-needed money to keep up with household bills if your spouse has moved out and is refusing to contribute any money to your family’s expenses except when the court orders him to do so. Applying for jobs to reenter the workforce while you are also going through a divorce is doubly stressful. At the same time, divorce is time-consuming, so if you are already busy with work, then adding all the responsibilities of your divorce case can be overwhelming. Deciding when to tell your employer about your divorce is just one of the multitude of things you need to do while your divorce is pending. A Boca Raton divorce lawyer can help you get through the stressful process of divorce and emerge from this experience with as much of your hard-earned money as possible.
Your Work Affects Your Divorce Case Much More Than Your Divorce Affects Your Work
Your employment situation has a direct effect on your divorce case, even in an uncontested divorce. Your income and your spouse’s income are among the most important factors in the equitable distribution of marital property. If you have minor children, then the parenting plan will depend on both parents’ work schedules; you might even need to change your work schedule to accommodate your post-divorce parenting responsibilities (unless, for example, you can make it your mother’s responsibility to pick up your children from school on Friday afternoons at the beginning of your parenting time).
There is no specific deadline for when to notify your employer of your divorce. If your spouse is covered under your health insurance plan, she will no longer be eligible after your divorce becomes final, so you will need to notify your employer in this case. Likewise, if you were covered under your ex-spouse’s health insurance, you may need to apply for insurance through your employer when you get divorced. Beyond this, your divorce is none of your employer’s business. Marital status is a protected category, and it is against the law for your employer to discriminate against you because of your divorce.
Is Your Employer Required to Make Accommodations for Your Divorce?
Divorce cases vary widely in complexity; you might only need to call in sick to work on three or four non-consecutive days before you are legally single again. If your case goes to trial, though, you will probably need to miss a few days of work to meet with your lawyer and go to court. Your lawyer cannot discriminate against you for going through a divorce, and being legally required to appear in court is a valid reason to miss work.
Contact Schwartz | White About Keeping Up With Work Obligations During Your Divorce
A South Florida family law attorney can help you strategize about discussing your divorce with your employer. Contact Schwartz | White in Boca Raton, Florida about your case.
Source:
sasforwomen.com/to-share-or-not-to-share-your-divorce-at-work/
