What are the expectations of an employer when it comes to divorce?

An employee who has devoted themselves to a company for many years may expect that devotion to be rewarded in the form of support when going through a difficult time such as a separation or divorce.

In some cases, the employer may offer compassionate leave, even if there is no such leave referenced in any contractual agreement, as a way to recognise years of service work.  And be more flexible around appointments and using leave.

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How can employers help?

While leave for bereavement is much more commonly granted, many employers do not have or offer the same flexibility to those suffering from the fallout of a divorce.

One survey revealed that only 10% of employees believed that their employer adequately supported them through a separation or divorce. Rather than continuing this trend, a good way to address the issue would be to initiate an HR policy to cover support and leave offered to those going through separation.

In some cases, organisations may offer legal support for their employees in an attempt to ease their financial concerns based on years of service. Other solutions could be to offer more flexible working arrangements or hours so employees can operate more effectively when able and attend appointments. 

A hands-on option can be to offer coaching and/or counseling services to assist the employee to approach separation from a healthy perspective and have someone independent to talk the situation through with.

For smaller companies with less personnel and budget constraints, an attentive line manager and/or colleagues can provide less formal support.

In the current climate with the prominence of divorce in society, it is important that employers take the lead on mitigating the impact of a difficult divorce by providing support.

By opting to support employees, companies can help to build staff back up to being productive individuals. Companies can rest assured that the support they’ve given will have gone a long way to build the mutual trust and respect present in the employee employer relationship. 

If employers are unwilling to invest in the stability and performance of employees, the company performance will suffer as a result. An employee going through a divorce can cost an organisation up to $100,000 in productivity.