In general, it is recommended to keep your personal life and professional life separate whenever possible. However, sometimes personal accomplishments, issues, or even crises will affect your work, making it impossible to separate your work and personal lives. Perhaps you are dealing with a difficult family issue, such as a divorce or an aging parent, that will likely impact your availability or attendance for the next few months. Maybe your crisis is causing your mental health to suffer, and you need to delegate some responsibilities to a coworker.
It can be stressful and complicated to decide whether to discuss personal issues with your boss. If you are wondering when it might be prudent to bring up personal issues at work, and the best practices for doing so, read on to explore some important considerations. This guide will highlight scenarios when you should and should not discuss personal problems with your employer. You will also learn how to navigate these difficult conversations if you decide you need to have one with your boss.
How to Determine if You Should Tell Your Boss About Personal Problems
If you’re on the fence about talking to your boss about a personal problem, it can help to take a step back and ask yourself some questions, such as:
- How long do I think these problems will last?
- Will this issue affect my work quality?
- Will this issue affect my work schedule?
- Can my coworkers help me during this time?
- Is my boss generally understanding?
- Are there any policies at my workplace regarding issues like this?
- Is there a human resources (HR) representative who might be able to help?
- Do I need some special accommodation?
- Is there anything my company can do to help during this time?
Use the answers to these questions as a guide when making your decision. For example, if you don’t think your personal issues are going to affect your work quality, you might not need to talk with your boss — at least not right away. If you need special accommodations, like the option to work from home, you will likely need to meet with your boss or another manager. If you anticipate that your personal issues will affect your work, it is best to discuss them with your employer as soon as possible to determine solutions and support.
How to Help Your Boss Help You
Deciding whether to discuss personal problems at work is challenging and things get even more complex once you have made the decision to disclose them. After making this decision, you’ll need to figure out how to communicate your needs to your boss.
In general, it is best to be as clear as possible about your situation, how it will affect your ability to work, and what you need from your boss during this challenging time. If you are worried that you will not be able to effectively communicate what you need, sit down and brainstorm or write some notes beforehand. Start by thinking about the result you hope to achieve by having this conversation.
To Talk or Not to Talk?
Only you can decide whether it is right to talk to your boss about personal issues or not. Keep the tips listed above in mind and you will be confident in your ability to make the right choice for your needs and situation.
