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Substance abuse in the workplace can lead to unparalleled negative consequences for your reputation, career and safety. Rehab treatment could be the last stop in ensuring you keep your job. Instead of giving explicit details about the ins and outs of your situation, you might opt to let them know you’re taking a leave of absence for personal reasons and plan on dealing with them so you can be a better employee. However, if you’ve alcohol withdrawal been at your workplace for a long time, you have a trusting, close relationship with your employer and your output at work hasn’t drastically decreased, being honest might be a better idea than you’d expect. In the modern world, people are becoming increasingly understanding about mental and behavioral health issues. You will likely need a referral from a medical provider and a written request for a leave of absence.
About 76 percent of those with substance addictions are actively employed, but most employees with addictions avoid treatment for fear of losing their jobs or hurting their careers. Commission on Civil Rights, 10 to 25 percent of the American workforce has worked under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Many employees struggling with substance abuse may try to hide their addiction and continue to work, potentially risking more career damage. Seeking substance abuse treatment is critical for an employee’s professional success, and frequently, employers will help employees reach recovery. Most people who experience a substance use disorder are functional enough to keep a job.
The good news is there are several ways you can now seek and receive addiction treatment without sacrificing your career. Unfortunately, the ADA only applies to businesses that employ at least 15 workers. Smaller businesses are not covered by the same standards, and in these instances employees with substance abuse issues will have to negotiate the terms of their continued employment if they are in recovery for addiction. However, many employers prefer to help employees struggling with addiction find the necessary workplace resources to reach recovery rather than terminate them.
However, sometimes people who seek help early on in their addiction can maintain other life responsibilities while they are in rehab. Workers who take drugs are also at a much higher risk of having an alcoholics anonymous accident in the workplace, which can be extremely damaging and expensive for a business. By seeking the help you need, you’re doing your part to make the workplace a safer, healthier environment.
However, many staff members who have an addiction bypass treatment, as they are worried about losing their jobs. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights claims that 10 to 25% of the workforce in America has shown up for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Most staff with a substance issue might attempt to conceal their addiction and keep working, risking damage to their careers even further. Getting help for an addiction to a substance is important for the professional success of an employee, and most often, employers tend to help valued staff with their recovery. Some employers offer EAPs, which provide reasonable accommodations to individuals struggling with substance abuse or mental health in-house.
First, seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction takes courage. If your job requires that you keep your laptop or cell phone in alcohol rehab with you, some addiction treatment centers offer executive detox and rehab programs, which are specifically tailored to professionals. These programs often allow clients to have access to a personal computer and phone for employment purposes. Thankfully, there are federal laws in place that protect individuals seeking help for drug and alcohol addiction.
However, a potential employer can ask you about your illegal use of drugs, such as, “Have you ever used illegal drugs? ” as long as the question doesn’t divulge any information about your substance abuse treatment. If you choose to use your company’s EAP benefits to receive counseling for drug or alcohol addiction, you cannot be fired for seeking help. However, if a condition of your ongoing employment is that you must comply with treatment, and you do not, you could potentially lose your job. When you enter a rehab program, the ADA protects you from losing your job for any reason related to addiction or addiction treatment.
Are more inclined to conduct non-work related activities during work hours, arrive late, take longer breaks or lunches, sleep on the job, leave early, perform work tasks poorly, and be absent from work. Are two times more inclined to file a claim for workers’ compensation. Our caring and compassionate staff can guide you don’t mix lithium & alcohol all the way through the admissions process. Infinite Recovery has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for our references. You can learn more about how we source our references by reading our editorial guidelines and medical review policy.
If you feel like you’ve been discriminated against as a result of substance abuse treatment, you can file a claim against your employer. Keeping the previously discussed legal protections in mind, you will also need to be careful about how you approach your boss when taking leave for a substance use disorder. The decision is up to you, but it would be wise to review your employee handbook before taking action. Keeping these legal protections in mind, you will also need to be careful about how you approach your boss when taking leave for a substance use disorder. Others may start their addiction treatment regimen with an online program, which offers even greater flexibility for people who are employed part-time or full-time. After completing online treatment, they may continue their treatment with IOP or a sober living program.
The most challenging aspect of taking a leave of absence may be speaking to Human Resources or your boss about taking time off to attend a substance use disorder treatment program. While there’s undeniably a stigma attached to addiction, rest assured that it’s unfounded and unfair. You can also seek addiction treatment by contacting your health insurance provider and finding out what types of addiction treatment are covered in your plan as well as which rehabilitation facilities are in your network. Once you have this information you can choose to either take a leave of absence from work or look into outpatient addiction treatment that enables you to work and attend treatment at the same time.
FMLA covers all qualifying individuals seeking addiction treatment, whether the treatment is inpatient or intensive outpatient therapy. The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health states that a substance use disorder falls under the category of mental health disorders and therefore is under the protection of FMLA. Treatment, or rehab, qualifies as a medical reason to seek this 12 week leave period. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protects your privacy as a job applicant by not allowing potential employers to ask certain interview questions. For example, an employer is not allowed to ask you about your addiction or your legal use of prescription drugs.
However, the fact that addiction is a diagnosable medical illness inherently means your job security is protected. Provided your company has more than 50 employees, there’s a good chance the FMLA will apply to you. If you are struggling with addiction and are worried about keeping your job while going to rehab in Massachusetts, remember that addiction is progressive and deadly. Continuing to use substances will only result in reduced productivity, problems at work, and ultimately losing your job anyway. And, there are many federal and state laws that protect you and allow you to seek treatment while maintaining employment.
These things are issues that addicted individuals frequently face when leveraging their options for addiction treatment. But there are ways to protect your job and your privacy while enrolled in drug rehab. Despite what you might think, going to rehab doesn’t mean you have to quit your job. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration , approximately 76 percent of people living with an addiction are also employed. Unfortunately, many people avoid getting the help they need because they fear doing so could cost them their job or hurt their careers. In fact, by avoiding addiction treatment, you can harm your job, health, relationships, mental stability, and more.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, check with a company human resources representative to see if EAPs or other treatment resources are available. The added pressures of high-stress occupations can contribute to the development and progression of a substance addiction. For professionals with demanding or high-stress positions, there are treatment programs tailored to their needs. Professional programs include general treatment and specialty treatment groups that address the unique challenges that may contribute to substance abuse issues. Facilities that offer such programs typically work with professionals to provide a plan that suits their mental and physical health needs as well as their job-related obligations.
Americans with Disabilities Act – Addiction and mental illness are disabilities that deserve certain anti-discrimination protections in a job setting, according to the ADA. Employers that employ 15 or more people are bound by the ADA’s provisions. These include job protections for those who are currently enrolled in a rehab program and reasonable accommodations for those who are successful in recovery from past drug or alcohol abuse.
A person who is brain dead is legally confirmed as dead. They have no chance of recovery because their body is unable to survive without artificial life support.
People with addiction may face stigma and judgment in the workplace, making this conversation very intimidating. However, being honest with your boss about the issue can help them see your problem in a more positive light. Employers can deny employment to a job seeker or fire an employee caught using illegal drugs. Employers can’t discriminate against employees with a substance addiction history who have rehabilitated or aren’t using drugs at the moment. Facility admission groups collaborate with people coming into treatment to isolate any issues they might be suffering with.
Most workers with substance use disorders have legal protections that guarantee their right to seek addiction treatment without fear of termination, or of being denied promotions or other employment in the future. The ADA is a landmark legislation passed to protect all persons with disabilities, including those individuals who struggle with debilitating substance use disorders. The ADA does not protect your job if you use substances at work or if substance use negatively impacts your job performance. But it will offer protection if you are currently enrolled in a substance use treatment program, and you are not using substances or alcohol. When you are not currently using substances, you are entitled to “reasonable accommodations” under the ADA. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include adjustments in the work schedule to attend intensive outpatient therapy or even a temporary leave of absence for inpatient treatment.
Related to worries about job security are concerns about what happens in a job after treatment. Many people wonder what returning to work will feel like, in terms of how they will be received by their boss and colleagues and what “reintegration” will be like. Be assured that there is life after rehab, including in the career that you took time away from and the work relationships you put on hold. However, getting high on the job, before you come to work, or even after you leave the office can have a severe impact on your career, reputation, and safety. Additionally, Infinite Recovery is in a network with major insurance companies and many smaller, more privately-owned companies.
If you’re needing any help or information give our drug rehab phoenix center a call. If you meet these criteria, you can’t be fired for going to rehab by simply taking an FMLA leave of absence. Your healthcare treatment – Your personal information and treatment history will be shared among healthcare professionals to provide you with adequate treatment. Unless it directly relates to your healthcare, your personal information can’t be shared without your consent.
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