GOOD QUESTION –
June 28, 2022 – Dear Working It,
You have no legal or moral obligation to tell your boss why you need medical leave. (One hopes that this continues to be the case.) And rest assured, going to rehab is medical leave. Treatment for alcohol- and drug-abuse disorders is covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act; it requires employers to allow for up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off to, in part, seek care “for a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job.” What’s more, people with addiction disorders are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. So, on the legal front: You don’t have to tell your boss why you’re leaving; if your boss does find out and retaliates, you have legal recourse. Let’s hope you never have to know more than that about the law and addiction.
Still, your question isn’t just about legalities; it’s about what kind of explanations we do or don’t owe people when we seek recovery. When I am in my right mind, the answer to that issue is straightforward: Obviously, no one owes anyone an explanation for any kind of medical treatment, even if it means others having to make accommodations. Disruptions are a part of working with other humans. Your concern for your colleagues’ workload is admirable, but I know that you know they are better served in the long term by your sobriety. Go do your thing, end of discussion.
Simple, right?
But in the early days of seeking our sober path, a lot of us are haunted by the idea that we need to tell someone, maybe everyone, about it. Some people might seek (perhaps subconsciously) the pats on the back that come with turning over a new leaf. Me? I wanted the people I’d failed or hurt in some way (and it seemed like that was literally everyone) to know I was going to try to change. Though perhaps those two motivations aren’t that far apart.
