Can I Take Time off of Work to Go to Rehab?

There are a million questions that can rattle your mind when considering treatment and the road to recovery from addiction. You may wonder if just making the decision to stop is an option. Usually, the answer to this question is no. 

Then there is the question of what your treatment plan and recovery journey will entail and require. Will you have to take time off of work? What in your life will have to drastically change in order for this drastic life change to be successful? Time is one of the biggest requirements for starting your recovery journey. 

If you have found yourself asking questions surrounding addiction and treatment, know that you are not alone. These are legitimate questions to ponder. As time waits for no one, it is also one of the greatest dilemmas when it comes to a life of recovery. Everything that we do in life requires time. Time was spent to develop the addiction, and time will also be necessary to treat, manage, and heal from it. 

Does Responsibility Stand in the Way of Recovery?

Addiction is a disease that has no judge of character. It can attach itself to anyone. Being a professional in the working world can be hectic for anyone. However, topping that off with addiction makes living with the addiction and trying to juggle work another job.  After juggling those balls for so long, you will essentially drop one because there will be too many the longer you try to manage your addiction without treatment.

The Question of Time: Needing Time off of Work for Rehab

Many individuals put off seeking treatment because they know that it requires time to do so. This could mean time away from family, friends, and loved ones. It could also mean time off of work. Seeking treatment could even mean an indefinite amount of time away from everything that is familiar to you. While each of these will be extremely hard to step away from, needing time off of work can be the most terrifying of them all.

Living in a working world, labor is what pays the bills. In America, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. The thought of not working or losing your job in order to get sober simply does not seem to resolve anything. Essentially, that could result in making you want to stay dependent on what you are trying to get free from. 

Working Professionals Struggling With Addiction: The Right to Take Time off of Work

Thankfully, rights are in place to ensure that working professionals struggling with addiction cannot be fired for going to rehab. However, this is something that many people are unaware of and can result in staying active in their addiction. 

Legal protections exist so that an employee cannot be fired for attending rehab. One is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law protects professionals struggling with addiction against job discrimination. Having an addiction can lead to the inability to function properly. Medically that can be seen as a disability. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) protects against discrimination against disabilities in employment and other professional settings. 

One’s eligibility for the ADA is the presence of a mental and/or physical impairment that exponentially limits one’s activity in life. Eligibility for FMLA requires more than the presence of addiction or mental health disorder. To be eligible for FMLA, one must be taking time off work for the purpose of treatment. Also, they must be employed by a covered employer of 50 or more employees, for a minimum of 12 months. 

Resources That Can Help You as a Professional

As many working individuals with addictions are not privy to the laws set in place to protect their livelihood they do not get the help that they need. Not enough education about these laws is provided or emphasized in training or work settings to let working individuals know that it is okay to still acknowledge their humanity. 

People get sick. Addiction is a disease, and when someone is looking to better themselves and their lives, they should have the opportunity to do so. Most life responsibilities do not stop or allow time away for you to get the help that you need. This is why it is important to know your resources and utilize what is available. 

Here at Lantana Recovery, we offer treatment and support. Our facility is an excellent resource for rehab and your recovery journey. We are a facility that can and will work with you as a professional. With our treatment, specific to your needs, we can help you take the proper steps towards healthier habits, choices, and lifestyles. 

If you are considering going to rehab and are not sure if time is on your side or may negatively affect your employment, look no further. As a working professional, you have rights, and Lantana Recovery is here to help you understand and take advantage of all that is out there for you. 

Time off of work is one of the biggest concerns of those wanting to be free from addiction. Knowing that treatment and recovery take time is one thing. However, knowing whether or not you have or can take the time that is required is another. Many are unaware of the rights that are set in place for working individuals who are trying to get sober. An employer cannot fire an employee for taking time off for rehab. Unfortunately, this is a reality that far too many are unaware of. Life as you know it may have to pause for you to seek treatment and come out as your best you. Call Lantana Recovery today for more information at (866) 997-2870.

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