Admitting you need treatment for a substance use disorder is not easy. While you’re entitled to your privacy, you do need to share this information with certain individuals—including your boss.
Consider What Your Boss Already Knows
You may think you’ve done a good job hiding your substance abuse, but addiction isn’t easy to keep a secret. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time near you probably either knows you have a problem or strongly suspects that something is going on.
Think honestly about your work performance over the last six months to one year. If you’ve done any of the following, you need to take action now to protect your job:
- Been frequently late to work
- Repeatedly called in sick or left early
- Missed important deadlines
- Made careless mistakes
- Been argumentative or impatient with co-workers or clients
- Gone into work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Used drugs or alcohol while on the clock
Admitting you’re struggling is never easy, but honestly acknowledging the problem and proactively seeking treatment shows that you’re willing to be held accountable for your actions and have a growth mindset. This speaks highly of you as an employee.
Know Your Rights Under the Law
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recognizes chemical dependency as a protected disability. However, this does not provide complete protection from termination.The ADA does not protect an employee who:
- Uses drugs or alcohol on the job
- Creates unsafe job conditions due to substance abuse
- Has had performance or productivity negatively impacted due to substance abuse
One important factor to consider is that the ADA only looks at your actions at the time you were terminated to decide if your firing is legal. If you voluntarily decide to seek treatment and are not currently abusing drugs or alcohol, you can’t be fired for past actions.
If you need time off work to attend rehab, you may qualify for a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). Eligible employees may request an unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period. To qualify, you must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months, have worked for a minimum of 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and be employed at a location with at least 50 workers employed by the company within 75 miles.
Understand Company Policies
Beyond federal regulations, your employer may have specific policies related to substance abuse that you should be aware of before speaking to your boss. This includes policies on company drug testing, substance use in the workplace, and applying paid vacation time to any FMLA approved leave of absence. Your employer may also offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that can connect you with counseling or other relevant resources.
If you have questions about your employer-provided insurance coverage, you can refer to your Summary of Benefits & Coverage or complete an insurance verification request to have a Waypoint Recovery Center representative verify your benefits.
Keep It Professional
Although addiction is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s best to keep the conversation professional with your boss. Schedule a time for the discussion where you can speak one-on-one without any distractions.
You don’t need to go into great detail about the nature of your addiction or the negative consequences you’ve experienced due to your substance abuse. There are only three things your boss needs to know:
- You have a substance abuse problem.
- You are getting help or need time off work for treatment.
- You are committed to your recovery and being the best possible employee you can be.
If you are nervous, it might be helpful to write a brief outline of what you want to say or to practice the conversation ahead of time with a friend or family member you trust.
Don’t Make Any Rash Decisions
If work has been a source of stress, you might be tempted to simply quit your job to avoid having to discuss your addiction. However, this is not a good idea. You may need access to your employer-provided benefits to pay for your treatment, and it’s possible your feelings might change once you have a few months of sobriety under your belt.
If you do end up deciding that leaving your job is the best decision, you want to end things as professionally as possible. Having an employer who can provide a strong reference will make it easier to find a new position that better fits your career goals.
