Will My Employer Keep Paying Me While I’m in an Addiction Center?

In 2015 it was estimated that 21.7 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for a substance abuse disorder (SUD). Unfortunately, only a little over 10% of people who needed treatment for addiction received it. One of the most significant factors that might prevent you from seeking treatment is the inability to pay for treatment at an addiction center or the fear of losing your job.

Avoiding or postponing rehab usually leads to further financial consequences. If an addiction becomes severe, your life might begin revolving around your substance of choice. This can lead to more significant expenses toward feeding your habit while neglecting other personal financial responsibilities.

More importantly, drug use can affect your ability to go to work and your overall job performance.

If you begin using drugs or alcohol on the job, you will likely be fired if you are caught or make serious mistakes while working. You may face additional financial and legal liability if you use while on the job. If you work with heavy machinery, you may also be putting people’s lives in danger every time you use.

Although going to drug rehab can be a scary decision, seeking treatment is the best way to ensure you remain financially stable. Avoiding seeking treatment will only result in further financial hardships. The best way to ensure that you are looking out for your finances and health long-term is by talking to your employer and seeking treatment.

Talk to Your Employer

Although talking to your employer about needing treatment may be embarrassing or intimidating, you must remember that you cannot be fired for seeking treatment for addiction. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), SUDs fall into a category of mental health conditions that prohibit employers from terminating you for seeking treatment. More importantly, speaking to your employer is the only way you can make arrangements to ensure you can take time off work to recover.

There are not any laws that guarantee pay while you are seeking treatment. Although, if you speak to your employer, they may be willing to make arrangements to allow you to take paid leave to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility. Additionally, you may also use any PTO that you may have saved to guarantee you are paid while you are seeking treatment.

I Can’t Get Paid Leave. What’s Next? 

If your employer is not willing to make arrangements for you while seeking treatment, you may be covered by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA allows you to take a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave to seek treatment for your SUD. To qualify for FMLA, you must have been with your company for a year and worked a minimum of 1,250 hours, and your employer must have at least 50 employees.

Although FMLA is unpaid, it still provides an option for you to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility. Suppose you are suffering from a severe addiction. In that case, inpatient treatment is likely the best option for recovery as you will be in an environment free from drugs and alcohol and have 24/7 care to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings as you detox. Before you take leave, you must notify your employer. If you do not, you risk losing your job.

If you are still worried about your finances, you can also speak to an admissions counselor at an inpatient treatment facility. Admissions counselors have years of experience, so they can help you navigate your finances to ensure you get the treatment you need. After speaking to an admissions counselor, you may consider starting treatment at an outpatient facility if you still do not feel that inpatient treatment is financially feasible.

Consider Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment benefits from being a part-time program that allows you to work while you are seeking treatment. You will visit the facility two to three times a week at an outpatient treatment program based on what fits your schedule best.

At an outpatient treatment facility, you will be given medications under the supervision of trained medical professionals to help you through drug detox and ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings. 

Additionally, you will have access to counselors who will be there to support you through the stresses that come with detoxing. They can also teach you coping mechanisms that will improve your mental health and prepare you for a life without drugs and alcohol.

Finally, they will offer you individual or group therapy to help with any depression, anxiety, or other underlying mental health conditions that may exacerbate your SUD. Counselors understand that recovery is a process and a journey, and they are there to ensure you do not have to heal on your own.

The Forge Recovery Center Will Walk You Through the Entire Recovery Process

Here at The Forge Recovery Center, we know that going through recovery is a journey to a life filled with happiness, health, and peace. While recovering from a SUD, you will need to detox and take the time to rebuild the other parts of your life that were affected by addiction.

Our staff has the knowledge and experience to help you work with your employer to find an option that works best for you without risking your employment and help you remain financially stable while you are seeking treatment at an inpatient or outpatient facility.

If you have questions about what treatment options are available to you and the steps you can take to remain financially stable while you are seeking treatment, contact The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

July 19, 2022