Divorce is a very personal process to go through and it may be difficult for you to open up to loved ones and close friends, let alone your boss or coworkers. Should you keep your divorce a secret – or disclose this in your workplace?
There will be times when your head is not in the right place, or you cannot be physically present because you have a divorce-related meeting to attend. Explaining to your boss upfront (and perhaps to a few close colleagues) may help them to understand and make allowances for you, as well as offer assistance.
Sometimes, it is about performance
A boss or colleague may feel you are slacking if they notice you are not working as well as usual. If they know you are going through a divorce, they are more likely to be understanding rather than frustrated or annoyed. In the case of a superior, informing them of what is going on in your personal life can potentially help you avoid a poor performance review.
Of course, employees do not need to divulge every personal detail. You should feel empowered to let your employer know for the sake of scheduling purposes or occasional performance issues, without needing to share particularly personal or contentious information.
Sometimes, it is about safety
Safety issues can also be a real concern. Your job may include duties or responsibilities that, without being in the right headspace, can easily become dangerous. On days when you have an important hearing or divorce issues feel overwhelming, it may be in the best interests of your safety and the safety of those around you for your boss to know that you need to take a temporary step back.
While divorce is common and a reality for many people, it can feel embarrassing or intensely personal to share this news in the workplace. If you feel you are unable to proceed with your duties at work without the divorce becoming a disruption, it may be in your best interests to share with a few necessary individuals.