Choosing to end a marriage may be one of the most difficult decisions you ever have to make. If you have kids, though, you are sure to confront a variety of challenges in your post-divorce family. Ensuring you provide for the best interests of your kids is non-negotiable, though.
According to the Global Business Travel Association, Americans take nearly 500 million business-related trips every year. If traveling for work is part of your tech job, you may be wondering how your job duties may affect your custody agreement. Here are three ways you can help ensure your business travel does not take away from your parenting duties.
1. Setting expectations
If your tech job requires you to travel frequently for work, you probably want to set reasonable expectations as soon as possible. That is, you likely want to discuss your job duties with your soon-to-be ex-spouse when trying to negotiate a custody agreement. By setting expectations early, you increase your chances of seeing your children as much as possible without jeopardizing your work performance.
2. Making concessions
Whether you love work-related travel or merely tolerate it, it is part of your everyday life. Still, your job duties may require you to make certain concessions when it comes to child custody. For example, you may not be able to establish a regular visitation schedule. Or, you may have to surrender time with your kids. A right of first refusal provision may allow you to see your children when you are not on the road.
3. Seeking modification
You may not always have had to travel extensively for work. If a new job title or different duties take you away from the area, your existing child custody agreement may no longer work for either you or your children. By understanding when to seek a modification, you can better plan for meeting job expectations while continuing to support the best interests of your kids.