One of the biggest concerns of patients looking for drug and alcohol treatment or mental health disorders treatment is the impact on their employment. Prospective patients worry about losing their job or having their reputations damaged as a result of seeking treatment. Hopefully reading this article will provide some assurances that returning to work after rehab is entirely possible! Many laws exist to protect the job of someone seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Additionally, there are many resources to help one re-enter the workforce after discharge from rehab.
What To Do Before Rehab
If you’re thinking about going to rehab, you know that addiction is ruining your life. Addiction, whether you realize it or not, harms your work performance. You will gain tools to improve your work performance, relationships, and outlook while in rehab.
Give your boss as much notice as possible so that he or she can make sure your responsibilities are covered while you’re away. However, your health and safety come first, so you should take care of yourself as soon as possible.
What To Do Before Rehab:
- Tell the truth about how long you plan to be gone.
- Inform your employer of the seriousness of your condition.
- Ask someone to cover for you while you’re away.
- Inform your boss and coworkers that you intend to return to work.
You should also keep them updated on your progress during rehab. Give your boss updates as often as possible, or work with a case manager at a rehab facility to communicate with him or her.
The best way to have your job back after drug rehab is to commit to treatment and demonstrate your ability to perform when you return. When you admit to having an addiction, that’s the first step toward recovery. After drug rehab, you will have a lot of challenges but with patience and a lot of will, you will get through this.
If you want to have a successful recovery, you can do it by taking the following steps:
- Find out what addiction is and how it affects you.
- Analyze your behavior, in this way you can reduce the chances of a relapse.
- After the drug rehab, ask for help from friends, family, and, in some cases, coworkers.
- Choose the best treatment option for you.
You may be able to return to work while you are in rehab, or you may prefer to take your time before returning to work. To reduce your chances of relapse, you should stay in a sober living environment and avoid risky situations.
Work And Recovery
Recovering from addiction is a difficult process. Returning to work after rehab is not easier. Recovery is full of difficult obstacles to overcome, from the first steps of detox to re-entering society.
No positive work references
One of the most serious issues that recovering addicts face is a lack of positive work references.
After drug rehab, their previous substance abuse had an impact on their job performance and they need to catch up with life.
Even when they limit their substance use to the evenings and weekends, addicts frequently arrive late for work, call in sick, or are not productive at work. Even your boss should be prepared on what to expect after drug rehab from you.
A “healthy” work-life balance in recovery is possible with the help of a supportive network of peers, clinicians, and medical providers. So work and recovery are related to each other. A lot of people know that after rehab what to expect is just feeling better and staying away from any kind of substances, in this way they can start working and having a normal life.
Stigma Associated With Addiction
Knowing that a job applicant is in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse can reduce the candidate’s chances of being hired.
Not getting hired is one of the things to expect after drug rehab.
In today’s society, there is a lot of misinformation about addiction, which can have a negative impact on a hiring manager’s perspective. Employers are hesitant to take the risk even when the recovering addict is doing well and wants to improve himself.
Recovery After Rehab
Some employers hesitate to hire someone with a history of addiction because they are aware that the candidate will have problems or relapse.
Group meetings, individual counseling sessions, and other forms of outpatient treatment are some of the steps that patients should take. Most employers have strict attendance requirements and are unwilling to bend the rules to allow those in recovery the time they need to attend counseling.
Criminal History
Many recovering addicts have prior criminal files. These could be crimes committed because of their addiction, or they could be other poor decisions made by the individual.
Work After Drug Rehab: What To Expect
Returning to work after drug rehab has its challenges, but it may be the next step in your recovery journey. It may be overwhelming, but unless you can live without your family’s money, you will have to do it sooner or later. Here are some of the advantages of returning to work after rehabilitation. Work and recovery are equivalents of each other. Recovery depends a lot on your work.
Purpose
Work can provide a sense of purpose for many people. People trying to fill the void left by drugs and alcohol may lack a sense of purpose. Returning to work after drug rehab is important because it can give these people a purpose and meaning in their lives.
Keep You Busy
You may have too much free time if you don’t have a job.
These long periods, may lead you into bad habits and get back to drugs or alcohol. Instead, a job can keep you busy and help you make better use of your time. After drug rehab, the only thing that you need to do is do fill your free time with different activities. And work is the most helpful thing that can happen to somebody who is in recovery.
Connect with People
Another thing to expect after drug rehab is making new friends.
You may not be close to all of your coworkers, but some of them may become close friends. These people can give you support during your recovery journey, especially if you are having difficulty making new friends in recovery.
Tips for Returning to Work After Rehab
It’s natural to be nervous about returning to work after completing addiction treatment.
To begin with, you’re probably concerned about whether you’ll be able to get your job back after a rehab, and then keep it. You have to know that work and recovery can help you either get over your addiction or make the situation even worst. Return to your job only when you are ready to face the challenges of a typical workday, not earlier!
Control Work-Stress
Stress is a major risk factor for relapse, and work environments are frequently stressful. There are, however, stress-relieving strategies.
- Avoiding stressful situations.
- Taking a deep breath or going outside to relax.
- Working toward short-term objectives.
- Exercising regularly.
- Eating a nutritious diet.
Many people are also concerned about their reputation or what others may think of them when they return to work. Talking with coworkers can help you a lot.
Interact with Coworkers
You don’t have to say anything about your personal life if you don’t want to.
Being open about having the necessary treatment and working toward recovery, on the other hand, can help reveal internal stress. Work is a critical component of recovery and coworkers are the same thing.
Coworkers are a support system during the recovery process. Some of your peers may not be supportive, but you should not be concerned about their thoughts and beliefs. This is the reason that our staff will do their best so you can start once again your life and fix all the broken relationships.
Avoid and Manage Relapse
During the recovery process, relapse is common, but abusing illegal drugs or alcohol can violate workplace policies.
Avoid risky situations, attend support group meetings, and continue to attend therapy after treatment to avoid relapse.
If you notice any of the warning signs of relapse, reach out to a friend, family member, or therapist for help. If you feel that you are not feeling well, seek treatment as soon as possible.
What Legal Protections Exist?
Employees considering rehab should know that there are many laws protecting their right to seek treatment:
- The Americans With Disabilities Act. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. According to the Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration’s website, not only does the law protect employees who have a history of substance abuse, but it also stipulates that “Employers also cannot fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees merely because they are enrolled in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.”
- The Family Medical And Leave Act. The Family Medical And Leave Act (FMLA), passed in 1993, protects employees who work for public agencies or who work for private companies with more than 50 employees. Under the terms of FMLA, after an employee has worked at a given place of employment for one year (and has worked at least 1,250 hours in that time), that employee becomes eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave. The employer is forbidden from punishing the employee for taking this leave, and this time can be used to attend rehab.
- The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act. The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 and protect the confidentiality of a patient’s health records. This means that employers cannot access health information without written authorization from an employee. Employees therefore need not worry about their health records affecting their employment or professional reputation, as this information isn’t even available to the employer in the first place.
Why Choose Purposes Recovery?
We have an experienced team, passionate and committed to the patient’s success. We at Purposes recovery understand how important it is to make the right decision when deciding between rehab centers. And for you coming forward to ask for help is a huge step in the right direction, it is critical to find a treatment facility that best meets your needs. That is why, from the moment you contact us, we will be there to support you and provide you with all of the information you need to know to make the best decision for you so you can work and recover at the same time.
If you need FREE help or have Medical or Medicaid insurance please contact the National Helpline about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, treatment, and recovery in English and Spanish.
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