Finding Support When You Need Help
Continuing to go to work while struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues is greatly challenging. Your job performance may suffer while you continue dealing with various negative symptoms with no end in sight. Talking to your employer about your issues and getting support from them may not be an option out of fear of losing your job due to your disorder. Union members can get the support they need from Union First, including job protection for union members.
Union First is an employee assistance service for union members, public service employees, and their family members struggling with mental health or addiction. Services are part of your union dues and are completely confidential. Union First can offer expert advice, personalized treatment referrals, and job protection services. Our helpline – 1-855-215-2023 is available 24/7 and can provide support during times of crisis. We can help you begin the necessary steps to get the help you need and ensure your job is protected when seeking out treatment.
How Union Members Can Get Job Protection Help During Drug or Alcohol Addiction Treatment
While millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse, only a small fraction get the help they need. One of the biggest hurdles to getting behavioral health treatment is the fear of losing your employment. Most people are unaware of federal and state laws that offer job protection for union members. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on disability, including mental health or substance use disorders, or taking time off to get treatment.
However, many of these laws still have loopholes employers can use to their advantage. In certain cases, your employer retains the right to terminate your employment. Nevertheless, you are far less likely to lose your job if you seek treatment and use your legal protection to attend rehab than let substance abuse or mental health issues affect your job negatively.
Union members may be oblivious to the resources included in their union membership. For example, you may have access to employee assistance services like Union First, which offers job protection services. Our experts know how to foolproof these laws to your advantage and ensure your employment, salary, benefits, and even promotions are secured when getting drug or alcohol addiction treatment. Instead of attempting to navigate these laws on your own, you can have a team of experts guides you through the necessary steps to take and the paperwork necessary to protect your job.
Job Protection for Union Members During Mental Health Treatment
Even with health insurance, many union members continue to struggle with mental health disorders out of fear of losing their job or getting a promotion. The ADA protects employees from discrimination based on mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Under this law, both union members and non-unionized workers cannot be legally fired for a mental illness that limits one or more life activities, a history of mental illness, or an employer’s belief that the worker has a mental illness.
Union First’s job protection services extend to mental health treatment as well. The same laws that protect you when seeking drug or alcohol addiction treatment, protect union members struggling with their mental health. Part of these laws ensures that employers make reasonable, necessary accommodations for workers. For example, an employee who struggles with insomnia due to anxiety may ask for a later shift or be provided with flexible work hours to attend doctor’s appointments. Our experts can help you navigate the accommodations you may need and how to approach your employer. We can also advise you if you feel your rights have been violated.
Insurance Coverage for Mental Health Treatment
Therapy can be quite costly, and many workers cannot afford more than a few sessions without their health insurance plan. Union health insurance plans tend to provide more generous mental health benefits by negotiating with employers to provide better insurance plans. Union may also offer supplemental insurance policies which increase behavioral health treatment options for their members.
Navigating your insurance plan on your own can be pretty confusing. Part of Union First’s services includes verifying your insurance and helping you to understand your benefits. We can also match you with mental health treatment providers in your area covered by your insurance and who meet your needs. This includes one of our private telehealth network providers. Members can get a telehealth appointment within 24 to 48 hours of calling us, instead of waiting weeks for an in-person appointment.
Insurance Coverage for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Union health insurance plans may cover drug and alcohol addiction treatment either partially or entirely. How much is covered depends on your plan and your addiction treatment needs. Union First can verify your insurance and identify addiction treatment options covered. We can guide you through any copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. While your plan may not cover all your addiction treatment needs, it can greatly reduce costs. Union health insurance plans can cover:
- Medically assisted detox
- Inpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment
- Sober living housing
- Aftercare programs
How Union Members Can Prepare Before Treatment
While federal and state laws like the ADA and FMLA protect your job when you seek out treatment, they do not protect you when active mental health and addiction disorders affect your job, such as increased absenteeism or coming to work under the influence. It is important that you use these laws properly, which means proactively before you get cited for job negligence or substance abuse in the workplace.
There are several steps you need to take before taking time off to get the treatment you need to ensure your job is protected under these laws. For example, these laws require a doctor’s note and approval from your employer before taking advantage of FMLA benefits, which include up to three months off of unpaid leave.
Union First can help you ensure you have taken the necessary steps and filled out paperwork that protects your job, benefits, and salary. Part of our services includes submitting a “placement in treatment” letter to your employer after being admitted to treatment.
Union First is Proud to Help Union Members with Job Protection
Union members, public service employees, and their family members can access job protection services through Union First. We are a first-of-its-kind employee assistance service for union members struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. Treatment placement services will help you find the right treatment program that takes your insurance and fits your needs which will begin your job protection service with us.
Our specialists know how to use federal and state laws to secure your job and all benefits when seeking out treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders. We will guide you through the necessary pre-treatment steps, help you fill out paperwork, and submit a “placement in treatment” letter to your employer. We understand how important your union job is to you and want to provide you with peace of mind when getting treatment, so you never put off getting the behavioral health treatment you need.
If you are struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues, please call our 24/7 helpline at (855) 215-2023 today to talk to an expert about job protection for union members.