Law firm Hall Brown explained in a recent Telegraph article that the number of divorce cases where unsocial working hours and irregular shift patterns was mentioned as one of the causes of the split has increased. Three years ago, just 18 of the 260 cases (7%) the firm handled involved one partner working irregular hours or night shifts. This has now apparently increased by 35% to 60 cases in 2017.
Why would working hours contribute to relationship problems?
You may think that not seeing each other enough is the reason why working hours can affect a couple’s relationship and whether or not they are likely to divorce. However, one of the senior associates at Hall Brown revealed an entirely different reason. Claire Reid said that in nearly 8 out of 10 of the cases where shift work was mentioned in the reasons for separation, it was suggested that infidelity had taken place. She told The Telegraph:
"We have heard complaints that such arrangements can effectively mean living under the same roof but leading separate lives.
“That strain, of course, can be made even more acute when there are children to be cared for because it can prompt rows about whether a husband or wife is making more of an effort for the family.
“What has become increasingly clear, though, is that more marriages are breaking down not just because of the shifts but the extra-marital relationships formed while working them,"
Another piece of research carried out in the US back in 2000 also seemed to support these figures, as it too revealed a link between shift work and likelihood of divorce. Its researchers found that men working night shifts, and who were in relationships where they had children, were six times more likely to split or divorce from their partner than if they worked regular 9-5 day hours.
Other problems
Working different hours from your partner can also lead to other types of strain on the relationship. It can be harder to plan quality time with the family if you don’t know when you’re going to need to work, or when one partner is working and the other is off. It’s harder to book family holidays in advance, or simply spend whole weekends together.
People working shift hours or night shifts also feel guilty about being away from their families, or not doing enough around the house or to look after children. This can potentially lead to a feeling of isolation and an inability to participate in normal family life, causing couples to end up living separate lives.
If you need professional, expert advice you can trust on any aspect of divorce, separation or family law, get in touch with the friendly team at renowned Liverpool divorce solicitor Tracey Miller Family Law – we’ll be happy to help.