Do I Need to Tell My Employer About My Addiction?

Deciding to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction takes tremendous courage. Now that you’ve realized that you need professional care and support for your substance use disorder, you likely have questions about an employee assistance program in Massachusetts. You may also question whether you must tell your employer about your addiction and your desire to enroll in an employee assistance program for addiction. Our addiction and recovery specialists are standing by to help you navigate this delicate time.

Contact Greater Boston Addiction Centers online today or call us 877.920.6583 today to ask about the employee assistance program in MA and how it can benefit you as you look to overcome your addiction.

What Is An Employee Assistance Program for Addiction?

Despite stereotypes and misconceptions about addiction, substance abuse doesn’t discriminate. It is estimated that 76% of people suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction are employed, dismantling the myth that addiction is the domain of the unemployed, poor and disadvantaged. The harmful effects of addiction are pervasive and will create challenges within the workplace, just like it does at home, school, and in social life. Whether your employer already has a suspicion that something is causing your performance and productivity to dip or not, you have a right to inquire about an employee assistance program in MA.

Substance addiction and dependency is a modern public health crisis, but addiction is a treatable condition. It should not cause good people to lose their jobs. At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we aim to work diligently with employees, authorities, family members, and unions to get you the drug treatment services you need and deserve.

To do so, we offer a safe, supportive environment that is sensitive to the concerns and interests of workers in Massachusetts. We work with employees every day, good individuals struggling with a substance use disorder and chemical dependency. Our skilled, compassionate medical team can help address your concerns about how your addiction is negatively impacting your health, emotional well-being, social life, and of course, your career. We offer the following programs at our Needham, MA campus:

• Opioid addiction
• Methamphetamine addiction
• Cocaine addiction
• Alcohol addiction
• Benzodiazepine addiction
• Marijuana addiction
• Polysubstance addiction

FMLA Allows Employers to Request Proof of Medical Condition

If you decide to take time off under FMLA to focus on your health and overcome an addiction, you are not required to disclose your condition to your employer. That said, your employer has a right to ask for documentation from a medical provider to verify your condition. It is important to note that your healthcare provider does not have to divulge the specifics about your current situation. They may, however, state your condition and the impact it is having on your work, and why a leave of absence is necessary to heal and get back to normal.

Furthermore, it is mandated that your employer must keep all information received about you and your recovery confidential from your coworkers. This should alleviate any concern about water cooler gossip regarding your condition. To take advantage of these legal protections, you must make the FMLA request before entering addiction rehab.

Do You Need to Tell Your Employer About Your Addiction?

You may think that you are successfully hiding your addiction, but someone at your place of work likely sees what is truly happening with you. Maybe they even approached you, reached out to help, or suggested that you seek professional help.

When deciding whether to seek help from an employee assistance program for addiction and tell your employer about your battle with substance use, it is important to first look into your company’s policies on drugs and alcohol. If there is no specific policy on the subject, research the healthcare policy for sick employees. Fortunately, there are laws protecting you from workplace discrimination, particularly from getting fired for addiction because it is considered a disease and a mental illness. Therefore, you have rights under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Before you talk to your employer, contact us for help in understanding any available employee assistance program in MA and how the law can and will protect you and your job. Call us today at [Direct[ to discuss how you can begin your road to recovery and reclaim your career and personal life.

Learn More at Greater Boston Addiction Centers

At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we offer a comfortable, safe, and friendly community facility in which you can defeat your addiction and experience recovery. You’ll find experienced, compassionate medical professionals eager to provide you with the tools, coping skills, and life lessons needed to live your life free of drugs and alcohol.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse and are worried about the impact it may have on your job, contact us confidentially at 877.920.6583 to learn more about an employee assistance program for addiction.