Keeping Your Job While Attending Rehab

Many people are unaware that they can keep their jobs while attending rehab. Professional addiction treatment centers work with the individual and their employer to secure their job while they get help.

Rehab is a crucial component to ensuring the person struggling can overcome the physical addiction, as well as maintain their recovery long term. The benefits of undergoing addiction treatment are immense, and those who are struggling should consider this beneficial option for gaining a happier and healthier future.

Can You Keep Your Job While Attending Rehab?

It is no secret that substance abuse and addiction affect job performance. Often, individuals feel like they are hiding their struggle well, and producing the same level of performance at work. This can be a false narrative. Many individuals continue to struggle because they don’t believe they can keep their jobs while attending rehab.

However, there are different laws and policies in place that help these individuals maintain employment as they get necessary medical care. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing medical condition, and getting help can be necessary for successful recovery.

Keeping Your Job Safe

A major concern and barrier to people getting help for their addiction is their employment. Keeping their jobs safe is an understandable priority. Between family and personal financial responsibility, being able to keep a job while attending rehab is important to most people who need help.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) helps keep employment intact. This act protects employment for qualified employees during family and medical emergencies. It allows for up to 12 weeks of leave within 12 months. It is unpaid, however there are other systems provided by employers such as short and long-term disability benefits that provide compensation during this time.

Privacy When Going to Rehab

Wondering to keep a job while attending rehab can also come with wondering about privacy. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law in 1996. This act provides security for individuals seeking help to maintain their privacy.

This law protects healthcare information from being divulged to individuals who have not been explicitly granted access to this information. In terms of rehab, there needs to be a release of information, signed by the person seeking help, that allows rehab centers to provide information to others.

This includes whether the person is receiving care or not. Without proper and explicit consent, no information can be provided to anyone.

Employee Assistance Programs

Employee Assistance Programs, or EAPs, provide different options to help those struggling with substance abuse and mental health. There are in-person, on-site, and telephone programs EAPs provide to help these individuals get on a recovery path. These programs have shown to be beneficial in employee retention as well as performance improvement after getting help.

It is also important to note that if an EAP is used to seek help, the individual cannot be terminated for seeking help. However, if they do not comply with treatment recommendations, the employer may choose to end their relationship with the employee.

Other Programs to Protect Jobs

Aside from FMLA and EAPs, there are other programs in place to help employees keep a job while attending rehab. The Americans With Disabilities Act helps to protect individuals struggling with substance abuse from discrimination as well as requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for treatment. Workplace recovery programs also provide added support for maintaining recovery post-rehab.

How to Fund Rehab

There are many barriers when it comes to individuals seeking help for substance abuse. Aside from keeping a job while attending rehab, another barrier is finances. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010 and it makes healthcare more accessible for individuals who struggle with addiction.

This act helped to recognize substance abuse as a chronic and relapsing health condition and stipulates that health insurance companies must offer addiction treatment as a covered medical condition. Now, each insurance policy and coverage will vary based on employer specifications.

Grants and Loans

When it comes to finances for funding rehab, many government assistance programs can help to offset the costs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help individuals locate and apply for these grants and loans so they can get much-needed help. 

Insurance

One of the best ways to go about paying for rehab is using health insurance. If an individual is provided healthcare through their employer or a family member’s employer, they may be eligible for addiction treatment options.

Every policy will vary as far as coverage and out-of-pocket costs, but insurance helps to cover the majority of the cost of rehab.

Rehab Options

Rehab has many different options for care. Each level of care serves a purpose and comes with its own set of benefits. All levels of care usually consist of medication management and therapy, as well as other forms of support. 

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is a level of care that provides supportive therapies, group, and individual, for individuals struggling with substance abuse.

Outpatient usually comes after an inpatient program. Inpatient provides detox and stabilization, and then individuals can fully grasp what rehab has to offer. 

PHP

Partial Hospitalization, or PHP, is a form of addiction treatment where individuals attend day treatment during designated hours and then return to a sober living environment afterward.

They still receive the necessary therapy and support to maintain recovery,  but it provides them a sense of freedom where they have to care for themselves. 

IOP

Intensive outpatient, IOP, is one of the final stages of addiction treatment. During this level of care, individuals attend treatment programs during designated hours, day or night, and then return to their normal living arrangements.

Additionally, it provides the same care and support as other levels, but it allows for more flexibility for individuals to keep a job while attending rehab.

Rehab Helps

Recovery is possible for those who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. The biggest barrier to people seeking help is work commitments. Many are unaware of policies put in place to help these individuals keep their jobs while receiving much-needed care.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, help is attainable. At Louisville Addiction Center we provide care and support while simultaneously working to ensure job security as the individual gets help.

Reach out today and begin the process of recovery.