Supporting employees through a relationship breakdown

Our managing director, James Maguire, recently spoke at the Barclays Professionals Sector Breakfast in Manchester on the topic of the business impact of divorce.

Whether you’re a business owner, part of the HR team or a colleague working with someone experiencing a relationship breakdown, divorce can have a far-reaching impact across teams and businesses.

One aspect of the talk focused on the role a divorce can play in wellbeing at work. Here, we look at what HR teams can do to help employees navigate the pressures a separation can bring and why consistent support is required throughout the process.

The impact of a relationship breakdown

A divorce is a huge upheaval and understandably, this significant life shift often has a profound impact on employees. The emotional toll, as well as the effect on finances and childcare, can lead to time away from work and reduced productivity and performance.

We recently carried out research which found that, outside of children’s wellbeing, financial circumstances and mental health are the two factors most affected by a difficult divorce and that, when issues are not resolved amicably, it can impact all aspects of a person’s life.

The findings also show that 40% of people think a difficult divorce leads to slower progression at work, with two-thirds of UK adults stating that it can result in reduced performance and productivity.

Whilst there are workplace policies and procedures for many life events that impact employees, such as bereavement or menopause, the toll of a relationship breakdown can be overlooked.

What support can employers provide?

There are several measures HR teams can put in place to support colleagues who may be struggling with a relationship breakdown at work. Offering flexible hours can enable them to take time for legal appointments and childcare arrangements, which may have changed following the separation.

Providing the option to work remotely or temporarily redistributing tasks within the team can also help to reduce stress and the pressures of being in the office environment.

It’s important to make colleagues aware of the support options available, signposting them to professional advice or simply letting them know that you’re there to listen if they would like to talk.

Depending on the nature of the divorce, it can be a drawn-out process, and employees may need additional empathy, support and allowances at key points in the process, including:

• The initial decision to separate: this can be emotionally taxing as people come to terms with the change
• Financial settlement discussions: gathering documents and information for financial disclosure can be time-consuming and stressful
• Court or mediation dates: reuniting with a partner, whether for mediation or in court, can be anxiety-inducing and require time out of the working day
• The final order: confirmation of the end of the marriage can lead emotions to resurface and employees may need to adjust to new circumstances

The wider business impact of a divorce

Supporting employees navigating a separation is just one aspect of how a divorce can impact a business. If you are a business owner going through a relationship breakdown, there are unique considerations, from balancing asset valuations and complex financial settlements to maintaining stability in your company.

If you want to find out more about protecting your business during a divorce or need expert guidance, get in touch with our team or read our blog post on this topic.