The impact of divorce on work productivity

Article published on Hello Divorce in May 2024

In these post-Covid days with many of us now working remotely, our personal and professional lives are intertwined more than ever before. It is therefore not surprising that stressful experiences such as divorce or separation have an increased impact on our performance at work.

Some of us may not realize, however, the scale of the disruption this causes. With 42% of marriages ending in separation, it is almost guaranteed that any employer will have a portion of their employees affected by these types of circumstances. Beyond the duty of care toward their workers, employers should be particularly alarmed by the repercussions this will have on their bottom line.

A recentstudy by Rayden Solicitorsfound that 79% of employees feel that their divorce had an impact on their ability to work. A similar study by the Nashville Business Journal estimated that employee productivity falls by 40% during the first 6 months of divorce. For one year after the divorce, employee productivity remains down 20%; co-workers lose 2 percent; and the supervisor loses 1 percent. According to the study, productivity continues to suffer on some level for 7 years! In this context, it is difficult for employers to ignore the impact of divorce and separation on their employees, and on their business itself. 

There can be an impact on employee productivity and focus before divorce proceedings are even initiated because most divorcees report taking two to four years to decide to file the paperwork.

In raising the awareness of employers on the importance of providing support to their employees in this particularly stressful life transition, it is essential to highlight the multi-dimensional impact of divorce.

We all know, of course, that family breakups are highly emotional and upsetting. The effect this has on someone’s sense ofidentity, stability, and family dynamics is significant. But beyond these considerations, divorce also directly affects people’s finances, their living conditions, their sense of community, and their friendships. And, as explained at the start of this article, their professional lives.

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