All you need to do is explain that the period of caring is now over and you are ready to pick your career back up where you left off. You can also focus on the desirable traits you demonstrated such as responsibility, dependability etc… all of which are desirable in the workplace too. Location Too Far / Travel Time
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Should I tell my boss if I’m going to rehab?
Mar 28, 2018 · If you are currently working and thinking about taking leave to address a substance use disorder, there are federal laws and policies in place to help protect you from losing your job. Read below because you may qualify …
Will I Lose my job when I go to rehab?
Mar 22, 2022 · Preparing for Rehab Treatment. If you are considering entering a substance abuse treatment program, know your rights and talk to your employer or your employer’s human resources department about taking leave under the FMLA, if applicable. While you do not need to tell your employer your actual diagnosis, you do need to provide enough information to show …
What to say when you leave a job you just left?
Aug 02, 2019 · You don’t have to go into detail if you’re not comfortable or think it may harm your chances of getting the job. The most important thing about explaining any employment gap is to put a positive spin on it. This will show employers that you are an optimist and likely to be a solution finder instead of a problem-creator.
Will I Lose my job if I take leave for substance abuse?
The following laws are worth being familiar with if you’re thinking about going to rehab. Family Medical Leave of Absence Act (FMLA)– Under the terms of the FMLA law, a substance use disorder and/or other mental illness qualifies as a “serious health condition” for which some U.S. employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected medical leave.
Does my job have to let me go to rehab?
You can be fired for going to rehab if you don't follow the formal FMLA process for requesting a leave of absence. If you enter a treatment facility first, then tell your employer afterward, you're not protected under this law.May 22, 2017
Should I tell my boss I have a substance abuse problem?
By law, employers must maintain confidentiality regarding any information they receive regarding the addiction or substance abuse treatment of any of their employees.Oct 7, 2016
Can you be fired for being an alcoholic in Canada?
Human rights laws prohibit discrimination on the grounds of disability. Addiction is considered to be a disability and, as such, an employee cannot be fired for being addicted to substances such as drugs or alcohol.
How do you tell your boss you are recovering?
Be very clear about the fact that your addiction is in your past and you are moving forward successfully sober and committed to remaining that way. Focus on the positive. Focus on your success in recovery, and point out the skills that have brought you this far. Explain your triggers and ask for the help you need.Oct 13, 2021
What happens if you tell your employer you have a drug problem?
In the US, your employer can discipline or fire you if your alcohol or drug use impairs your ability to do your job. However, employers cannot discipline or fire you simply because you tell them you have a substance problem.Aug 28, 2019
Is alcohol addiction a disability?
Under federal disability rights laws, alcohol addiction, whether current or past, is typically considered a disability due to the effects it has on a person's brain and neurological functions and is protected by the ADA.Mar 10, 2022
Is drug Addiction a disability in Canada?
Drug and alcohol addictions are disabilities under the Code. [37] There is often significant cross-over between addictions and mental health issues, with many people experiencing both.
Can you fire an employee for being an alcoholic?
While employers are free to terminate and can refuse to hire anyone whose alcohol or drug use impairs their ability to perform the duties of their job, employers cannot fire or take other negative employment actions against an employee because of their status as an alcoholic or drug addict. California and federal laws ...Apr 30, 2017
Who to speak to about disability?
Once all the necessary information has been gathered, it’s best to speak to your employer or human resources officer as soon as possible.
What is a return to work agreement?
This is a written document containing all of the employer’s expectations for employees coming back to work after completing a treatment program for an addiction disorder. This is typically used in the case that the employer approached the addicted individual for failure to meet work responsibilities or inappropriate behavior related to substance abuse. If the employee then invokes the right to attempt treatment before being fired, it’s likely that a Return-to-Work Agreement will be arranged.
What is the ADA and FMLA?
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protect addicted individuals from discrimination and help them get the treatment they need without losing the jobs they need to survive.
What percentage of people with substance abuse issues hold jobs?
They have bills to pay, families to support, and careers to build. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 76 percent of people with substance abuse issues hold jobs. Many people fear that getting treatment at all will hurt their careers or get them fired. However, there are laws that protect people ...
Can you leave a job for substance abuse treatment?
Federal law offers many forms of job protection to people seeking treatment for substance abuse. Most people can’t just leave a job for several weeks of addiction treatment. And despite certain stereotypes, the vast majority of addicted individuals are employed and live relatively normal lives.
Can you be fired for addiction?
Once you enter a rehabilitation program, you’re protected by the ADA and cannot be fired for reasons related to your addiction or the treatment process, even if it causes you to miss work. If you are fired, you can file a charge of discrimination against your employer.
Is it better to be honest with your employer?
It’s often better to be honest and straightforward with your employer, especially since employees are protected by confidentiality. If your employer comes to you first about a reduction in workplace performance quality, you can protect yourself from being dismissed from your job by being honest about your addiction disorder.
The Big Question: How Do You Give an Employment Gap Explanation After Rehab?
Before we look at ways to gain confidence for your post-recovery job interviews, let's tackle the elephant in the room first. Employment gaps on your resume will be obvious to any potential employer: they're guaranteed to ask about them.
How to Get Through Your Post-Recovery Job Interviews
When you've decided how much you're going to say in your interview, it's time to think about how to use your experience to bolster your application. Keep these things in mind to give you confidence in your interview.
How to Stay Sober When You're Working
Once you've given a satisfactory employment gap explanation, the next step is to accept a job role. This is a fantastic step forward in your lifelong recovery.
What to do when you leave a job?
Keep in mind that when leaving a job, you can sometimes negotiate with your employer about how your departure might be represented to future employers. Doing this may help you avoid some of these tricky application issues.
What to say instead of "quit"?
Some of the terms you could use instead of “quit” include: Pursuing other opportunities. Resigned.
Why is it important to be honest when filling out a job application?
That's because prospective employers may contact your former employers to verify that the reason you listed is accurate. If it's not, you may be removed from consideration for the job. 1
What to do after you cut ties?
Once you’ve cut ties and moved on, your main priority is to develop a plan for discussing your previous position during a job search. This is especially true if you were fired, laid off, or quit without a “good” reason.
Is it difficult to explain why you are applying for a job?
It’s likely an emotional issue for you, and even if it’s not, it can be difficult to explain while keeping your reputation untarnished. If you have to list a reason on a job application, it can be challenging to come up with an appropriate response that will be verified by your former employer.
What happens if you go back to work for substance abuse?
When you go back to work, bear in mind that if your employer discriminates against you because of your condition, that is against the law.
Why do I have to hold down my job?
But foregoing treatment isn’t the answer to protecting your job or your health. While having to hold down a job is a common excuse for not getting treatment for an addiction or mental health problem, the excuse is also, tragically, a mistaken one. That’s because there are legal protections in place that will protect your job while you get ...
What are the laws to protect your job?
The following laws are worth being familiar with if you’re thinking about going to rehab. Family Medical Leave of Absence Act (FMLA) – Under the terms of the FMLA law, a substance use disorder and/or other mental illness qualifies as a “serious health condition” for which some U.S.
What are the worries about job security?
Related to worries about job security are concerns about what happens in a job after treatment. Many people wonder what returning to work will feel like, in terms of how they will be received by their boss and colleagues and what “reintegration” will be like. Be assured that there is life after rehab, including in the career that you took time away from and the work relationships you put on hold.
Can an employer fire you for being absentee?
Because your employment is likely “at will,” meaning you are employed by your own free will, an employer can fire you if they detect absenteeism or negligence on the job. This outcome becomes more likely the longer you let a mental health problem go untreated, leaving you vulnerable to absenteeism and negligence on the job.
Is it ok to step away from work to get treatment?
No job—no matter how important—should stand between you and the treatment you need to get better. In some cases, a decision to step away from work in order to get treatment may in fact mean the difference between life and death. Call our counselors today to get the answers you need.
Is rehab a good way to protect your job?
In this sense, going to rehab is the very best way to protect your job. That said, knowing what anti-discrimination laws exist to protect you is a good precaution to take, so that if an employer threatens your job with a claim of absenteeism or negligence, you can refer to these laws to protect yourself….
What to do if your resume reveals a gap?
If a quick glance at your resume reveals gaps during which you were in active addiction or in treatment, be prepared for questions . Depending on how significant these gaps are, you may feel pressure to disclose some information about your recovery. Be honest.
How to address recovery?
You could choose to disclose your experiences in a cover letter or application, open up during an interview, wait until after you’ve been hired, or opt against sharing entirely. Busting the stigma.
What to do if you don't share your story?
If you choose not to share, fight the urge to fabricate explanations for things like gaps in employment. Find a way to bring the conversation back to your strengths instead. The law is on your side.
Can talking about recovery affect your job offer?
Unfortunately, discussing your path to recovery may elicit negative reactions from people who don’t understand what you’ve been through. Choosing to bring it up either before or during an interview leaves you vulnerable to judgment and ultimately could cost you a job offer. Be prepared.
Why leave a job off your resume?
So if the job was short and didn't yield any results that would make you seem like a more attractive candidate , in spite of being fired, leave it off.
How long does it take to quit a job after being fired?
If you were fired from a job, or you simply got up and quit after two months, or you have a long history of job hopping, it's better to tell the truth about those instances, than to try to hide the truth and hope it doesn't surface later.
What to say before a phone interview?
So before a phone interview or in-person interview, practice what you'll say when pressed about the reasons that you left your last job or are looking to leave your current one.
Is a resume a legal document?
A resume isn't like a legal or financial document that must be 100 percent accurate and complete. It doesn't have to list each and every job that you've ever had in your life and your reasons for leaving them.
Do you scan your resume before interviewing?
People who do hiring typically receive a lot of resumes for an open position, and the reviewer may scan your resume quickly before deciding whether or not to advance you to the next round of the interviewing process. Make sure that everything listed there will help your candidacy, not hurt it.
Can you ask about prior terminations?
Yes – if the application form specifically asks. Many employers include a yes-or-no question about prior terminations, and provide a space to explain if you have to answer yes. Tell the truth and choose yes, then provide an honest but neutral explanation. If relevant, share the lesson that you've learned from being fired.
Do you have to include a job on your resume if you were fired?
However, including a job on your resume from which you were fired is often necessary. If it was a job you held for more than a few months, you probably had accomplishments and gained experience that will bolster your candidacy.
How to explain why you want to leave a job?
Though it’s important to fully answer your interviewer’s question in explaining why you want to leave your job, keep your response to around one or two sentences. Then, point the conversation back to why you’re the best person for the job. 3. Stay positive. Even if negative experiences have informed your decision to leave a job, ...
What do employers want from problem solvers?
Employers want to hire problem solvers who can work through difficult situations. Focus on the skills you learned in your current role, good relationships you may have built with your coworkers or positive interactions you had with customers or stakeholders. For example, instead of, . “I don’t like my manager.
How to overcome negative disclosures on resume?
Overcoming these problems starts with a review of your resume's content. Although honesty is essential, you're trying to minimize the effect of negative disclosures until the interview -- where you can sell yourself to an employer while explaining your circumstances.
How to overcome the stigma of prison?
Sometimes, it's possible to overcome the stigma of a prison record through various legal remedies that ex-offenders may not know about. These measures range from the delayed recording of judgments, to pretrial diversion programs and the sealing of court records, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
Do you have to provide criminal history to the Workforce Development Center?
The Workforce Development Center recommends that you only provide the information that's required . For example, don't give details of misdemeanor convictions when you're only asked about felonies. Also, verify that your criminal history is recorded accurately.