In stark contrast, the employment rate for married and cohabitating mother was 71.4% in 2006.
Divorce - A Negative Effect
The statistics quoted above refer to a specific segment of the population, albeit a pretty sizeable segment. What is true for single mothers is also applicable to both men and women, whether with child or without. Divorce has a negative impact on people's careers and, once again, there is no use in trying to dodge around this fact because the examples in support of the statement are just too many. Yes, there are stories of celebrities who have bounded back after their divorce and partied around, looking in the pink of their health. There are, admittedly, many people who are helped by divorce, and can flourish better after they put a bad marriage behind them. But for most, divorce is an immense deterrent and does not help in their career.
Side Effects
The age group that has recorded the highest number of divorces over the past five years is 25-29. It is less publicised, but this is also the group more prone to taking up smoking, drinking and drug abuse due to divorce. Needless to say this does not work very well for their career either. It is also equally interesting to note that this age group also has examples where a divorce has worked very well. Most of those who separate after a failed marriage also find a partner after some time. For the next two decades of their lives, people in the UK chiefly concentrate on their career. It has been noted, in the same ONS survey mentioned at the beginning of this article, that for women, average earnings peak between 30-39 years and for men between 40-49 years. Post-50, the earnings steadily decrease for both men and women.
Divorce rates are lowest among the 35-45 age group. Cohabitation is becoming rapidly popular in this group. While substance abuse rates are much lower among the divorcees, this age group is also more prone to binge drinking, and this is really a bad habit which hampers their work.
Why?
To realise why people's careers tend to take a nosedive after a divorce, one needs to get beyond quoting statistics and look deeper. The reasons, if averaged, would be as follows:
- Statistically speaking, the household income reduces, because the two partners separate and their income will not be added together any longer.
- In the initial phase of the divorce, the proceedings take up too much time and attention, and most couples tend to miss a number work days at office. This sets the trend for not going to work later in the divorce.
- Post-divorce, there is once again a phase when people are grieving and cannot concentrate on work. This creates a second gap period.
- Many people relocate after divorce to be closer to the next partner or to physically leave their old life behind. This can create the typical re-adjustment problems at work
- In case there are children, a plethora of problems may arise. The custodial parent might have to leave the job to facilitate child care. The parent who has lost custody may be too devastated to pull himself or herself together immediately. Many men are affected by this syndrome and become emotionally unstable, neglecting their jobs after losing their child due to the divorce.
- The daily lifestyles of most couples undergo a total change after divorce, so they have trouble picking up the thread again.
Divorce does not help in one's career. But this should not be an excuse to go on with a failed marriage either.
About the Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information on getting a Divorce see http://www.quickie-divorce.com
