As long as you haven’t violated the terms of your employment by being under the influence on the job, the Americans with Disabilities Act may allow you to seek treatment without losing your job. This can mean either a modified work schedule so that you can attend treatments or unpaid leave to go to a program.
Full Answer
Should I quit my job to go to treatment?
Nov 23, 2020 · Want to know how to go to rehab without losing your job? Consider each of the following programs. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical …
What happens when you lose your job and feel worried?
As long as you haven’t violated the terms of your employment by being under the influence on the job, the Americans with Disabilities Act may allow you to seek treatment without losing your job. This can mean either a modified work schedule so that you can attend treatments or unpaid …
Will I Lose my job if I don’t seek help?
Oct 25, 2021 · Outside the world of your addiction, life is still going on, and that means you still need to maintain your interpersonal relationships, go to work and attend your classes. You may wonder how to go to rehab without losing your job in Bakersfield, and that is what our …
Will I Lose my job if I don’t get drug rehab?
Sep 24, 2020 · Layered onto the anxiety of job loss are the practical aspects of paying for cancer treatment while experiencing a loss of income and/or health insurance coverage. There are …
A Special Note About Stay-At-Home Dads
In the wake of a job loss, many men today find themselves in the position of being a stay-at-home dad while their wife becomes the "breadwinner" fo...
Symptoms of Depression After A Job Loss
People who've recently lost a job are at special risk for developing major depressive disorder (MDD), a serious condition that requires treatment....
Diagnosis and Treatment For MDD
A doctor or other licensed mental healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. Questionnaires are usually used to help...
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Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario. You’re a corporate executive at a Fortune 500 company. It took you more than a decade to work your way up to this position from entry-level positions, and you consider this one of your greatest accomplishments. But ever since the economy crashed, things have been tense around the office.
Does Your Place of Employment Offer Employee Assistance Programs?
There have been many people to find themselves in this predicament. In fact, it’s estimated that 9 percent of all individuals with a full-time job — almost one in ten individuals employed full-time — is suffering from a substance abuse problem. 1 For these individuals, they often don’t feel getting treatment is an option.
Breaking Down the Family and Medical Leave Act
There’s another option that may be available if your employer doesn’t offer an employee assistance program: the Family and Medical Leave Act. This one is more well-known than employee assistance programs and tends to be more accessible. By law, there are certain requirements an employer must meet and requirements the employee must meet, too.
Does the Americans with Disabilities Act Work for or Against You?
Since 1990 when it was enacted into law, the Americans with Disabilities Act has protected individuals from discrimination at work, school, in public transportation, and other public and private areas that are open and accessible to the public.
What to do after losing your job?
Medicare or Medicaid. The first step after losing your job is to figure out whether you are eligible for COBRA, says Monica Bryant, COO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit that educates people with cancer and their families on legal and practical issues. COBRA gives you and your family the right to keep the same health plan ...
Is it scary to lose your job?
“It’s scary to lose your job,” says Rebecca Nellis, executive director of Cancer and Careers, a nonprofit that helps people with cancer navigate the workplace. “It’s scary to spend every day wondering if you’re going to lose your job.”
Is it stressful to lose a job?
Job loss is stressful no matter the circumstances. More recently, millions of people have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. To make matters more difficult, job loss in the United States can often mean a loss of health insurance. For people with cancer, losing a job is an especially challenging time because of the costs ...
What is Cobra insurance?
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) (federal or state) Your spouse’s or a parent’s health insurance plan. The Health Insurance Marketplace. Medicare or Medicaid. The first step after losing your job is to figure out whether you are eligible for COBRA, says Monica Bryant, COO of Triage Cancer, ...
How long do you have to decide if you qualify for Cobra?
Typically, if you qualify for COBRA, you would have 60 days to decide whether to keep your employer-based insurance after losing your job. However, a new rule by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Employee Benefits Security Administration gives people more time to decide during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the duration of the pandemic and an additional 60 days after the COVID-19 emergency ends, people are able to choose COBRA. There is currently no specified end date for this period.
Can you be alone after a job loss?
Ask your doctor about lower-cost options for your treatment plan, if possible. Remember: You are not alone after a job loss. There are resources to help you continue your cancer care even in the most difficult circumstances.
What is the law for cobra?
COBRA gives you and your family the right to keep the same health plan that you had at your job. This federal law applies to private businesses with 20 or more employees, as well as to state and local governments of any size. Your state may also have COBRA laws that protect you if you worked for a smaller business.
What happens if you lose your job?
If you’ve recently lost a job, you may be at special risk for developing major depressive disorder (MDD), a serious condition that requires treatment . According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, each year about 6.7 percent of U.S. adults experience MDD, with the average age of onset being 32.
What are the benefits of being unemployed?
According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, people who are unemployed lose access to job-related benefits such as time structure, social contact, and status, which contributes to increased depression.
Can depression be diagnosed?
There is no single test to diagnose depression. However, there are tests that may rule it out. A healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on symptoms and an evaluation. They may ask you about your symptoms and request your medical history.
What are the symptoms of MDD?
Symptoms of MDD include: feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, or guilt. feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. fatigue or chronic lack of energy. irritability. difficulty concentrating. loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities, such as a hobby or sex. insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
What are the feelings of helplessness?
feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, or guilt. feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. fatigue or chronic lack of energy. irritability. difficulty concentrating. loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities, such as a hobby or sex. insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) social isolation.
What are the symptoms of insomnia?
insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) social isolation. changes in appetite and corresponding weight gain or loss. suicidal thoughts or behaviors. In the most severe cases, people may experience psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
What is the treatment for MDD?
Treatments for MDD typically include: antidepressant medications. talk therapy. a combination of antidepressant medications and talk therapy. Antidepressant medications can include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which attempt to increase serotonin levels in the brain.
How does substance abuse affect your job?
Signs that substance abuse may be affecting your job performance include: Performance issues. Problems finishing tasks at work.
How many days a week is outpatient treatment?
Many outpatient programs include one to three days a week of clinical treatment, while allotting the additional days and time for working.
Is substance abuse a negative thing?
The majority of substance-addicted individuals are active members of the United States workforce. 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.
Is substance abuse a concern for employers?
Substance abuse in the workplace is a major concern for employers, as employees who work under the influence of drugs or alcohol typically cost more to employ, are less productive and can create potentially dangerous situations for others or themselves. Employees who abuse drugs or alcohol are 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and have health care costs double those of other employees.
What happens if you fail a drug test?
If you are found abusing drugs or alcohol on the job or fail a drug test, you will likely be terminated immediately.
What is inpatient treatment?
Inpatient treatment programs require individuals to take a leave of absence from work to focus solely on recovery; however, many inpatient programs will work with people to accommodate their work-related needs. Quality inpatient programs aim to help patients acclimate to treatment however possible, such as providing extra access to computers or additional time for job-related phone calls.
What are the added pressures of high stress occupations?
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.
Can you lose your job if you fail a drug test?
They try to get around disciplinary action or avoid losing their job after they have failed a drug test, gotten caught using drugs or alcohol at work, or shown up to work under the influence. The law won’t help you if you are in one of these situations.
Can you be fired for addiction?
In most cases, you cannot be fired for admitting that you have a problem with addiction. Depending on the circumstance, your disease may be protected under the law. If you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol and you want to get treatment, you should know that you do have options. You can go to rehab and keep your job.
Why don't people get treatment for substance abuse?
Many People Don’t Get Substance Abuse Treatment Because They Want To Keep Their Job. If you have a substance abuse problem, it’s completely normal for you to want to keep this information from your employer. Most people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol believe that having a problem with addiction will result in immediate termination.
Is it normal to be fired for substance abuse?
Most people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol believe that having a problem with addiction will result in immediate termination. No one wants to be fired from a job. Not only can this be embarrassing, it can negatively impact someone’s career and have long-term consequences.
Is addiction a legitimate illness?
Addiction is recognized as a legitimate illness by almost every major national health organization. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that “addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.”.
Is alcoholism covered by the ADA?
There is some gray area about how to handle a situation if you are currently using illegal drugs – and we’ll get to that. However; if you are an alcoholic, you are completely covered by the ADA.
What is FMLA for substance abuse?
Most people who have a substance abuse problem are not familiar with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides time off to someone who wants to get help for a substance abuse problem. FMLA applies to all public agencies and private employers that have more than fifty employees.
Can you be fired for addiction?
Once you enter a rehabilitation program, you’re protected by the ADA and cannot be fired for reasons related to your addiction or the treatment process, even if it causes you to miss work. If you are fired, you can file a charge of discrimination against your employer.
What is a return to work agreement?
This is a written document containing all of the employer’s expectations for employees coming back to work after completing a treatment program for an addiction disorder. This is typically used in the case that the employer approached the addicted individual for failure to meet work responsibilities or inappropriate behavior related to substance abuse. If the employee then invokes the right to attempt treatment before being fired, it’s likely that a Return-to-Work Agreement will be arranged.
Is there an addiction treatment center in the US?
There are many addiction treatment centers across the US and other countries, but there are a number of factors that can make accessing that treatment more complicated than it should be. One of the most common issues experienced by addicted individuals crops up when medical professionals recommend inpatient treatment to those who have jobs.
Is addiction a mental illness?
However, there are laws that protect people with addiction disorders from workplace discrimination and particularly from being fired for addiction, which is considered to be a legitimate mental illness.
What is FMLA for addiction?
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protect addicted individuals from discrimination and help them get the treatment they need without losing the jobs they need to survive. Once you enter a rehabilitation program, you’re protected by the ADA and cannot be fired for reasons related to your addiction or the treatment process, even if it causes you to miss work. If you are fired, you can file a charge of discrimination against your employer. This applies to all state and local government employers and private companies with 15 or more employees. Under the FMLA, qualified employees can take 12 weeks of medical leave for issues that include addiction disorders each year. Unfortunately, this leave is generally unpaid unless the employer chooses to provide paid leave. This may not be an option for part-time or contract employees or for those who cannot afford to go several weeks without pay.
What is the ADA and FMLA?
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protect addicted individuals from discrimination and help them get the treatment they need without losing the jobs they need to survive.
How much does drug abuse cost the US?
After all, drug and alcohol abuse costs the US over $700 billion each year, mostly from workplace accidents, crime, healthcare, and loss of productivity.
Can an employer fire you for being absentee?
Because your employment is likely “at will,” meaning you are employed by your own free will, an employer can fire you if they detect absenteeism or negligence on the job. This outcome becomes more likely the longer you let a mental health problem go untreated, leaving you vulnerable to absenteeism and negligence on the job.
How long is FMLA?
employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected medical leave.
What is the ADA?
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – 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 ...
What happens when you go to rehab?
When you complete rehab, you work on your addiction issues and other mental health issues that have probably taken up much of your thought and energy.
How long can you take FMLA?
You are allowed 12 weeks of medical leave in a 12-month period. If you choose to enter an inpatient drug rehab program, the FMLA law protects you from being terminated.