What to Do When a Personal Problem Is Affecting Your Work

How to talk to your boss when you need to deal with a health issue or unexpected crisis

Alli Hoff Kosik
Forge

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A man wearing a white shirt, holding up an umbrella and a briefcase, standing waist-deep in the water on a rainy day.
Photo: gruizza/E+/Getty Images

NoNo matter how good you are at your job, when your mom breaks her hip and needs around-the-clock care, you’re going to have to admit that you’re not just a great employee — you’re also a human being living a complicated life.

You’re not invincible. It’s something that can feel hard to remember right now when the world is buzzing with can-do energy, and everyone you know is posting on social media about all the ways they intend to thrive in the year ahead. But the universe has a habit of throwing curveballs, and there’s always the chance that at some point — this year, next year, five or 10 years from now — you’re going to get hit with one of them, smack in the middle of your personal life. A health problem. A breakup. A financial hurdle. A family member who needs to be cared for. And when it happens, whatever it is, your work will likely be affected.

But work, unfortunately, doesn’t stop for a personal crisis. This means that at some point, you might need to talk to your manager about what’s going on, whether it’s to explain why you’ve been so distracted lately or to ask for some time off. Here’s how to professionally, effectively, and honestly tackle…

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Alli Hoff Kosik
Forge
Writer for

Alli Hoff Kosik is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. A voracious reader, she channeled her love of books into launching The SSR Podcast in June 2018.