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You are not Alone
It is hard to know when and if it is
appropriate to share your addiction history or current struggles
with your employer or your co-workers. You aren’t alone.
According to the US Department of Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 20% of the people live
with treatable, yet chronic alcohol or
 drug dependency. Even so,
a 2002 Workplace Study (The Hazelden Foundation) showed that
many employees fear retribution for even asking about substance
abuse treatment coverage. In fact more than half of the
respondents said they would be more likely to ask their employer
about insurance coverage for a disease such as diabetes as
opposed to substance abuse.
Full article. However, Hazelden also reports that
some companies like Kimberly-Clark have chosen to take a
proactive stance toward addiction. Kimberly-Clark Corporation
has found that providing early intervention and treatment for
employees with addiction is cost effective and makes good
business sense.
Know your Rights
As an employee or potential employee in
recovery, you have rights. SAMHSA has created a publication
called Know Your Rights that
details employees’ rights determined by the Family and Medical
Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Workforce Investment Act.
This brochure will help you: know your rights under federal laws
that protect you from discrimination in employment and job
training, housing, government services and programs, health care
and other public accommodations, and education; know the legal
consequences of substance user-related conduct that may limit
your rights and opportunities in areas such as public housing
and other federally assisted housing, federally funded public
assistance and food stamps, and federal student loans and aid;
and know what you can do to prevent or remedy violations of your
rights under Federal non-discrimination laws, overcome legal
barriers that other laws may impose due to past or current
substance use-related conduct, including convictions for
substance use offenses.
Resources
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to employees
who have worked at their job for 12 months. They can take up to
12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12 month period due to
a health condition, including substance abuse. However, not all
employers must offer FMLA. Your employee handbook should
specify whether or not you are eligible.
The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits
discrimination against employees and applicants. ADA applies to
employers with 15 or more employees. Who is protected? Drug
addicts who are not currently using drugs and have been
rehabilitated or have a history of drug addiction, and drug
addicts currently in a rehabilitation program (includes
inpatient, outpatient, and programs such as Narcotics Anonymous)
are covered under the ADA.
Co-workers are Affected Too
The 2002 Workplace Survey notes that more
than 60% of adults know someone who has reported for work under
the influence of drugs or alcohol (The Hazelden Foundation). How
can you help a co-worker that appears to be having addiction
problems or is having problems with a family member’s addiction?
Talk to your co-worker about the things that matter the most to
him or her and how they may be affected. Remind your co-worker
of company resources such as an Employee Assistance Program or
insurance coverage. Full story.
Sometimes helping too much can hurt yourself and your co-worker.
Click
here to find out how to help without falling into the trap
of codependency.
Substance abuse affects non-using family
members in the work place too.
Full story. If an employee has someone at home who is
abusing substances, it is very likely that they will have
difficulty concentrating and may possibly be absent to take care
of their family member.
Other Employee
Resources
In addition
to the links you find above, here are a couple more that
will help answer questions you may have about being an
employee with substance abuse issues.
Why have a Drug-Free Workplace –
Employee Fact Sheet from SAMHSA
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.org/
The Next
Step
Editor: Leanne
Murray
Writer: Cathy Swing
Designer: Virginia Hart
Partnership for a Drug-Free
NC
665 W. Fourth Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Subscribe to The Next Step
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