Even if you’re a high-functioning employee, drug or alcohol addiction will most likely impact your career at some point. It is easier to take that step toward addiction recovery and go to a private rehab center when you know how to discuss a rehab stay with your employer.
Explain What You Need
If you have kept your job throughout your addiction and maintained your productivity, your announcement of a rehab stay may come as a surprise to your employer. Even if it’s clear that you have needed help for some time, telling your boss that you need to tend to your health is not easy to do, especially if you are worried about privacy and the security of your job.
Explain to your employer what you need to do for yourself. Before you deliver your news, review the options available to you based on your employment contract and health insurance, and whether you qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Ideally, you have an employer that is understanding and makes this move easy for you.
But Don’t Give Too Many Details
It’s important to be transparent about your rehab stay. However, your employer does not need to know the breadth and depth of your addiction. You are not obligated to explain what substance you are addicted to nor how it has affected the rest of your life. Your finances and personal relationships are private matters.
It is helpful for your employer to know details that will allow them to help and support you as you make a transition from work to rehab and back to work again. Agree on the best term to use among coworkers, customers, and other relevant parties to preserve confidentiality. Quite often, the term “leave of absence” is all that is necessary.
Reassure Them of Your Value
Your employer hired you because you were considered the right person for your position. Let them know that you’re still the right person, and that taking care of your health in executive rehab will enable you to come back to your job as an even better and more capable employee.
It is natural for you to be concerned about losing your job because of your addiction, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects those who are in addiction recovery from workplace discrimination.
Make the right choice to seek help, so you can do the work that needs to be done to be successful in your career. Choose the holistic addiction recovery program at Beachside Rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida, for inpatient care, outpatient care, executive rehab, and private treatment . Call today at 866-349-1770 to connect with a trained admissions counselor.