Support | Divorce inquiries have surged during COVID-19 - how can HR help?

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown period has affected relationships in many different ways.

For some, being cooped up with the same person for days on end can strengthen partnerships and deepen romantic bonds. On the other hand, however, lockdown can cause relationships to turn sour and irreversible conflicts could arise. Some couples may break-up while some may go one step further and plan to divorce. Even during lockdown, a recent Evening Standard article detailed how London law firms have already seen an uptick in the number of people enquiring about divorce. Therefore, City law firms are bracing themselves for a surge in divorce filings post-lockdown.

This is supported by Divorce Lawyer, Ayesha Vardag, who recently told the Evening Standard that clients have already been contacting her covertly, sneaking calls in to the firm whilst on their daily exercise trips or whilst running essential errands. “They are finding lockdown is forcing their hand, they just can’t stand it anymore…It always happens when people have been forced together in that pressure-cooker environment,” Vardag told the publication.

This notion was corroborated by Hardeep Dhillon, Consultant Solicitor at Richard Nelson LLP, who told the Evening Standard that UK Google searches for ‘I want a divorce’ have increased by 154% since UK lockdown was enforced in March. With stats and legal experts pointing towards a potential increase in divorces going forwards, HR Grapevine spoke to James Maguire, Managing Partner at Maguire Family Law, to find out how HR can support employees going through a divorce and what HR should know about the process.