What Does Employee Advocacy Mean
The rise in substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders in the US is staggering. Anyone can easily fall into alcohol and drug addiction, including prescription medications like Oxycodone, which are adding to the opioid epidemic. There is much stigma surrounding substance use disorders which cause feelings of shame and low self-esteem when dealing with these issues and getting help from a treatment center. Many workers are struggling with their mental health illness and/or substance abuse disorders alone due to the fact they are afraid of losing their job if they seek help, whether because of their employer finding out about their mental health or substance use disorder or taking time off to get proper alcohol and drug addiction help. Behavioral health treatment is very important for the millions of Americans struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, but there are not enough people getting access to addiction treatment they need.
Employee assistance programs exist to help workers get helpful services such as substance abuse, mental health disorders, financial issues, legal problems, and childcare challenges. They are intended to encourage workers to reach out for help confidentially and to get them addiction recovery help when necessary. Some employee assistance programs go beyond these services to also offer help and advice on protecting your job while you get the necessary addiction recovery help. Through recovery advocacy, they can fight for you and your need for mental health or substance abuse treatment.
Recovery advocacy services can help you get the proper alcohol and drug recovery and behavioral health treatment and time off necessary to get addiction treatment. Many people are not aware of their rights under state and federal law that allow them to get addiction treatment without discrimination from employers or losing their jobs. However, employee assistance programs have experts who know the ins and outs of labor laws and how to use them to protect your employment, salary, benefits, and position. Their recovery advocacy services are available to answer any questions you may have and serve as a liaison between you and your employer if there are issues.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) are federal laws in place that allow you get substance abuse treatment without discrimination from your employer. FMLA gives employees 12 weeks of leave of absence for medical illness, the birth or adoption of a child, or caring for a sick family member. The ADA protects against discrimination, including being fired, against those with disabilities, which includes mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders.
Types of Employee Advocacy Services We Offer for Addiction Treatment
Union First is the first of its kind employee assistance program for union members and their families. We help union members get substance abuse treatment and mental illness treatment while helping to protect their employment. Part of our services include recovery advocacy services.
We are aware that one in five U.S. adults experiences mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This is a significant part of the population that needs mental health needs, and most people don’t seek treatment. Being part of union has afforded you many services, which includes access to Union First and our advocacy services. We understand how important mental health and addiction treatment is and how important your job is to you as well. Our goal is to help all our members to easily have access to treatment and not have any hesitation in getting treatment. Having experts on your side looking out for your best interest is invaluable.
Employee assistance programs encourage members to reach out for confidential help. Our members can have access to addiction services 24/7. We can assess their behavioral health issues and advise on what to do next, which resources are available and connect them with drug abuse treatment. We want you to get better and have complete knowledge of what it will take to get you there so you can trust in your treatment program. Case managers can explain the conditions you are dealing with, addiction counseling treatment options available, what your insurance plan covers, and a better understanding so you can make well-informed choices when it comes to addiction treatment. Treatment placement can also find the right treatment program in your area and help you fill out the proper paperwork to ensure your job is protected.
Our team will also fight for your employment rights under federal and state labor laws. Our experts know your rights under FMLA and ADA well and can give you effective advice on how to proceed with your employer to ensure your job is protected. We can also keep communication with your employer to ensure that your job is protected.
The Benefits of Employee Advocacy
There are many benefits of employee assistance programs with advocacy, including:
Have someone to reach 24/7. Advocacy services are available anytime day or night and you will quickly be connected to someone who can help you. Whether you are having issues with your employer or need resources for getting behavioral health treatment, advocacy services can help you 24/7.
Instant access to resources about your employment rights. Most people are unaware of their rights under state and federal laws. Advocacy services can advise you on whether your rights are being violated and what you can do next to exercise those rights.
Have access to all your resources in one place. Most individuals do not know where to turn or what to do first when it comes to deal with mental health issues or substance abuse. With advocacy services you know you can quickly be connected to addiction counseling and someone who will listen to your issue and adequately advise you on what to do next. They can even connect you directly with treatment centers or telehealth online treatment services.
Support from experts who know state and federal labor laws. Employee assistance programs are experts when it comes to labor laws. They have helped many keep their jobs, salary, benefits, and more while getting substance abuse treatment. You can trust the advice and information that is given to you is accurate which you can take to your employer with confidence.
Instant access to behavioral health services. Advocacy services want to help you get better, so they can quickly get you help through a trusted network of providers or an appointment with one of their
Telehealth online treatment providers. Getting help as soon as possible can be the biggest difference in alcohol and drug treatment outcomes.
Confidentiality. Whether you just need to inquire about health services or need immediate treatment, you can trust you can use advocacy services confidentially and your employer will not know that you have used those services.
Have someone on your side that will fight for your employment rights. Advocacy services can communicate on your behalf and ensure that your employer is acting lawfully under these federal protections. You will never have to feel like you are going about fighting for your job or benefits alone. Experts will be right beside you making sure you get the help you need without any consequences to your employment. This can also help resolve issues or unknowns with work quickly compared to if you are attempting to do it on your own.
Advocate for your wellbeing. Consulting with advocacy services who truly care about your wellbeing, means you will get the right advice when it comes to navigating substance abuse and mental health care treatment. They can advise you on your health condition, treatment options, and help you understand to make more informed care choices.
Have someone walk you through the process of getting addiction treatment. Advocacy services can walk you through the addiction treatment process and what to expect in alcohol and other drug rehab. You can also reach out to your case manager while actively in addiction treatment if you have any questions or concerns about your program or work.
How Our Employee Advocacy Services Can Help You Get Effective Addiction Treatment
At Union First, we offer employee recovery advocacy services as part of your union membership to you and your family. We can help you get effective addiction treatment quickly through our services. When you call us, you will be matched with a case manager who can help you throughout the entire addiction recovery process and who will know you and your situation well to get you the best help possible. They will conduct a thorough assessment to determine what you should do next and what addiction treatments are available to help you. Case managers can then place you with an alcohol and drug rehab who fits your needs and advise you on which level of care or behavioral health treatments you might need depending on your addiction needs. Treatment and recovery centers will offer inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient program (IOP), outpatient treatment, and addiction prevention treatment. If the situation is not as severe, they can also connect with one of our 40 telehealth online treatment providers and get you an appointment within 24 to 48 hours.
If you require mental health or alcohol and drug rehab, once you have been placed with a treatment center, our team will file a “placement in treatment” letter to your employer as part of our job protection services. You can then focus on your addiction recovery treatment as our team will also work hard to protect your job and bring you one step closer to returning to work. We also have teams that can conduct onside addiction prevention presentations.
If you or a family member is struggling with alcohol and other drug addiction, our team is here to help you in any way they can. Do not hesitate to call us, day or night.