January 12, 2024
About to enter addiction rehab and want to keep your job at the same time? Yes, it’s possible, and here’s how.
Juggling work and addiction rehabilitation can be difficult. It's not only for job security, but also for your relationships, well-being, and the future trajectory of life.
With all the pressure behind these responsibilities, just the thought is undeniably challenging. But don’t worry, this blog should give you a headstart on how to keep employment during rehab.
employment during rehab
As you may already be familiar with, addiction rehabilitation is a process that helps you overcome substance abuse. There are three ways you can move forward with this, and you can find a recovery path tailored for you.
Here are the three forms of addiction rehabilitation to get you started.
Inpatient rehabilitation is a substance abuse recovery program where you’re immersed in a structured and supervised environment. You’ll have to do overnight stays at a facility and have your sessions there.
You’ll have 24/7 support and monitoring during your rehab. It’s a controlled setting and may initially feel suffocating as an idea, but it’s ideal if you’re looking for an intensive and focused intervention program.
For this option, you’ll have to talk to your employer about work arrangements, but it’s certainly still possible for you to keep your job.
Outpatient programs, on the other hand, offer you a more flexible approach to addiction rehabilitation. You won't be required to do overnight stays at a facility, and it can take place in many settings.
You can attend scheduled sessions while you maintain your everyday work routine and living arrangements. This is ideal if you have a strong support system.
In an intensive outpatient program, you can have the immersion of inpatient and flexibility of outpatient programs. Basically, you’ll attend more sessions than those in traditional outpatient programs.
This program will give you comprehensive support without entirely interrupting your daily life, so keeping your job is also certainly an option.
Any of these three options above will help you in safeguarding both your health and your career.
This program will give you comprehensive support without entirely interrupting your daily life, so keeping your job is also certainly an option.
No one could fault you for worrying about your employment while in addiction rehabilitation. You’re taking a step back from your work responsibilities, and you may think your boss will fire you. However, that is why you should understand that there are laws designed to protect your job while you seek treatment.
Let’s begin with the ADA and the FMLA.
The ADA is primarily concerned with ensuring your well-being while you’re in substance abuse recovery. The ADA prohibits anyone from discriminating against you for being in rehabilitation.
Under this act, your jobs must accommodate your needs so you can perform your best at work without interfering with your treatment, and vice versa.
If you don’t have a job, this act shall protect you against discrimination during your application, interview, and the time after you accept a job offer but have yet to begin working.
You will and have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else in the room.
In the name of workplace support, the FMLA can grant you up to 12 weeks of medical leave. You'll be able to prioritize your health without sacrificing your livelihood and causing additional stress about job security.
To check whether you’re eligible for the FMLA, you may check in with your employer.
Above all, you can also trust that any information you disclose to your employer about your treatment must be and will be kept confidential.
Despite these laws and treatment options doing their best to take care of you, no one can deny that juggling work with addiction rehabilitation is hard. Below are the common challenges you may face and the strategies to help you overcome them.
You may find it challenging to manage your time between work and treatment. Overlapping schedules or thinking of the other, while you’re supposed to be fully present in one, will only stagger your progress in both.
Instead, you could set structured schedules and communicate these with both parties. A flexible schedule at work will allow you to arrange enough time for your employment during rehab.
It’s also a great idea to start breaking down your tasks into more manageable chunks to increase your chances of checking off your to-do list more efficiently.
Stress almost seems like an unavoidable companion in this process. All that pressure from meeting work deadlines, withdrawal, rehabilitation, and your dream to do well can be a little overwhelming.
That said, it would be great to look into breathing techniques, meditation and mindfulness, and practicing regular breaks. This can help you alleviate your stress in much healthier ways.
While you’re legally protected from discrimination, sometimes you cannot help but notice the looks people are giving you.
The first thing you need to understand is that there needs to be no shame in seeking help.
As for workplace support, don’t be afraid to talk to HR about company guidelines and policies that can provide you with a safe space at work.
Balancing work and rehabilitation is a difficult feat, but it is certainly possible. There are treatment options and legal policies that will actively support you toward sobriety. The odds are not against you and there is hope.
But remember, you can only balance work and treatment if you get treatment in the first place. If you’re ready to make that call toward a new life, contact Another Chance today!
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