Navigating Divorce and Employment: Will My Marital Status Affect My New Job?

I am getting a new job and according to the very STRICT policy of the company, I should notify them about marital status changes. During the interview, I mentioned that I am married (and I wasn't asked about our relationship with my husband) and while filling in their CV form, I also mentioned that I am married (as there were only three options to tick - single, married, divorced/widowed). However, my husband and I have lived separately for 10 months, and he has raised the question of a divorce.

For now, I have only paper forms, and the petition is not filed yet, as we are collecting the forms. My HR has warned me that there might be some troubles while being employed, as the Petition for a divorce is the only document that can be qualified as a document that verifies the change of marital status. She advised me to provide her with access to my papers so she could control the process and I could avoid unnecessary paperwork while becoming a part of their team. I wonder if it's possible to be an issue while getting employed and what my further actions should be to avoid troubles?

Dear Fan-Ander, you have written that "I am getting a new job, and according to the very STRICT policy of the company, I should notify them about marital status changes." When you applied for the job, your marital status was "married." Therefore, this was not a misrepresentation of the facts; everything was in order.

Now, when you get the divorce, you may immediately inform your employer about the divorce. In the application, you may write that when you acquire the divorce certificate, you will submit it immediately.

Why is your employer so strict about marital status?

However, the question remains as to why your employer is so strict about the marital status. Whatever your marital status is, it should not have a bearing on your employment. Why is your employer so nosy? Making company rules strict on information about the marital status, is this not a breach of privacy? We are told that in the US, the privacy laws are strict. Your post shows this was just an assumption.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

You honestly conveyed your true marital status at the time of applying. Between then and now, the situation may change due to potential divorce proceedings, which could take a considerable amount of time in court. To maintain your credibility, please keep your employer informed of this possibility and assure them that you will submit relevant documents regarding any changes in your marital status as soon as they occur.

Regards,

Vinayak Nagarkar
HR and Employee Relations Consultant

Marital Status and Employment in the U.S.

The fact that you are on the brink of divorce should not be an issue while getting employed or afterwards. In U.S. laws, no discrimination is permissible, not even a semblance of it.

As you have already disclosed your part of the story and HR seems to be appreciative of it, you have fewer worries now. Considering the U.S. situation, the employer being very strict on marital status is not surprising. So, your disclosure of the actual reality was really needed.