How Union Members Can Get Help with Addiction Treatment
About 70% of people who have a substance addiction have a job. So, if you are concerned about losing your job if you enroll in rehab, you’re not alone with your worry. Fortunately, there are legislative protections in place designed to support employees and their various types of addiction treatment needs. Even so, it’s important to know what protections are yours by right. It’s important to have the peace of mind of knowing that your job is safe so that you can focus on your treatment.
Union First helps union members and public employees understand all of their rights. Knowledge is empowerment, and while employers should be aware of employees’ rights, that’s not always the case. Fortunately, unions and public employees take care to understand labor laws because they may face harsh penalties for failing to abide by them. By learning about your rights, you may feel much more comfortable about getting the treatment you need.
Are There Labor Laws for Substance Abuse Treatment?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are various pieces of legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act that make it illegal for employers with more than 15 employees to discriminate against employees who are enrolled in substance treatment programs. There are other legislative acts, too, that offer protections that may apply to individuals seeking alcohol or drug treatment. These include:
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993
- National Labor Relations Act
Each of these acts offers support for employees in different ways. Which one a person relies on when seeking out treatment may be confusing, which is why Union First takes care to advise employees and unions about the different protections types and how they work.
How the Americans with Disabilities Act Applies
The Americans with Disabilities Act is an important protection that may apply to many situations involving workers who seek substance abuse treatment. It applies to employers with more than 15 employees. The act states that these employers cannot fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote individuals who are enrolled in substance abuse treatment. The act doesn’t prevent employers from drug testing or having drug policies, but its protections support those workers who are recovering.
Does the Family and Medical Leave Act Protect Going to Rehab?
FMLA applies to businesses and organizations that employ more than 50 employees. The act protects workers who have been employed at their job for more than 12 months and allows them to take off 12 weeks of unpaid leave in order to care for a child, spouse, or attend to their own health needs, which would include substance abuse treatment. Employers may not retaliate against employees who use this leave.
5 Benefits of Having Job Protection When Going to Rehab
Without job protection, many individuals would find it difficult to impossible to enroll in a rehab treatment program. Naturally, people fear losing their livelihood and benefits; job loss not only impacts their life, but also anyone who may be dependent on them like their children. Some key benefits of job protection while attending rehab include:
Less Stress
Struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction is stressful enough without having to fear for one’s job on top of it. Knowing that your job is protected makes it easier to focus on one’s treatment. Managing stress is crucial because it’s often a major trigger to abuse alcohol or drugs.
Financial and Benefits Security
Job protection ensures that individuals getting treatment for substance use disorders can still pay their bills and, indeed, pay for rehab. Medical benefits offer some level of coverage for addiction treatment for union members and mental health care. With current protections, union members and public employees do not have to sacrifice their income or benefits in order to get rehab treatment.
Protection for Loved Ones
Families of recovering individuals also face less stress when their loved one is able to access addiction treatment without losing their job. A parent’s job loss, for instance, can cause more chaos for families who are already struggling because of the impact drugs or alcohol use have had on their home and relationships.
Support Network
While learning about job protections from Union First, workers can also tap into area support networks. These groups may provide access to aftercare or other resources that are helpful for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
Transparency and No Reason to Hide
Workers don’t have to try to hide their condition or make up excuses in order to access leave for substance abuse treatment. They are entitled to get the treatment they need without retaliation. This makes it easier for them to take their leave and focus on their recovery journey.
How Can Union Members Get Help with Rehab Placement?
Union members can get in touch with Union First for help finding a rehab that suits their needs. There are rehabs located all over the country. Union First helps employees select one that not only offers high-quality treatment and is in their network, but also accepts their medical insurance and provides the types of treatment they’re in need of. For instance, not all rehabs offer dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis affects many people with addictions–about one-third. We can help people locate rehab programs that offer the treatments they need.
What Happens After Completing Addiction Rehab?
Addiction recovery is a long process. Rehab is just the start. The recovery period varies, but generally requires months or longer. Rehab programs usually run 30, 60, or 90 days. After completing a program, however, an individual is not cured. During treatment they learned more effective ways for managing their triggers and preventing relapse, but in the days and months after completing their program, they’ll have to put those strategies to work. Former triggers will appear; temptations are inevitable. The goal for people recovering is to manage these triggers successfully.
To prevent relapse, many people transition from their rehab program to aftercare. Aftercare takes many different forms. Some people continue to meet with a counselor each week or every couple weeks for ongoing support. Some people attend 12 step meetings for support. Aftercare plays an important role in continued recovery because it lends support to people as they return to their everyday lives and its stressors. Because aftercare is flexible, it doesn’t tend to impact people’s jobs. If you are interested in finding aftercare programming near you, you can count on Union First for help.
Union First Can Help Union Members Go to Rehab and Keep Their Jobs
Union First is devoted to helping workers get the addiction treatment they need without losing their job. Legislative protections have not been easy to win. But they have been won, and workers have every right to rely on them. When you contact us for help, we can advise you about the protections that make the most sense for your situation. When taking leave for treatment, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your job is safe, that it will be there when you complete your treatment program. You don’t have to sacrifice your job in order to seek substance abuse or mental health care treatment. Contact us with your questions or concerns at 855-215-2023 or visit us at www.unionfirst.net. We can help.
Please give us a call today at (855) 215-2023. We are available 24 hours a day to assist you towards a more balanced and joyful life.