Workplace: Relocating Single Parents

Whether they become single parents by choice or by chance, their ranks are growing. For employers, that means additional, unique challenges, when relocating them. If a single parent has shared custody, will they be allowed to move their children out of state in the first place?

Whether a single parent with shared custody of a child is allowed to move their child out of state or not is the wrong question. What is best for the child is the question employers should be asking after they ask what is best for their company, because any judge in a child custody case is going to determine what is in the best interest of the child.

Obviously, moving a child out of state when the child’s other parent, with whom the child has a relationship and a custody arrangement, is not good for the child. At all. It doesn’t take brain surgery to figure that out.

If a parent cares more about their job or career than their child’s relationships with both of his or her parents, then they aren’t being a good parent, and probably shouldn’t be allowed to move their child out of state — even if the court allows it — because the child will be negatively affected, probably permanently.

What about the other parents’ visitation rights?

This is a legal question, but the common sense answer is that if both parents can agree on an arrangement, then there should be no problem. If both parents can not agree on an arrangement, than the child should not be moved. The stress between parents affects a child negatively — whether the parents are married or divorced.

Also, what additional assistance do single parents require with regard to locating schools, childcare, etc?

The biggest problem that single parents face is the lack of a second set of hands at home. It’s very hard to work and raise a minor child. If a parent, single or married, is moving with a child, the neighborhood and school district should be child-friendly as a priority in the move.

How much do these matters complicate a move?

Enormously.

And how much responsibility does the employer bear when it comes to assisting them with these unique challenges?

None. Business is about profits for the most part. Good business is about the employees that affect profits, and smart businessmen and women understand that their employees well-being (and this includes their families) will affect profit at work. Understanding the unique challenges of parenting in this age of divorce and blended families is important. What to do about parenting is between the parents, themselves.