If you’re thinking about getting treatment for alcohol or other substance use, you may be worried about what it could mean for your job. Can you take time away from work? Do you have to tell your employer you’re getting treatment? Could you be fired?

Fortunately, there are laws that may protect your job while you get treatment, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If you’re eligible, FMLA may allow you to take job-protected leave so you can step away from work and focus on recovery.

Here’s what to know about FMLA, your job protections, and what you may need to tell your employer if you take time off for treatment.

Can I go to treatment without losing my job?

In many cases, yes. FMLA allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for certain medical and family reasons. Treatment for alcohol or other substance use may qualify for this protection if it meets FMLA requirements.

Not everyone qualifies for FMLA, so it’s important to understand the requirements and your employer’s process for requesting medical leave.

Does FMLA cover substance use treatment?

FMLA may cover treatment for alcohol or other substance use when it qualifies as care for a serious health condition. Depending on your situation, this may include inpatient treatment or certain ongoing treatment from a healthcare provider.

Eligible employees can generally take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave during a 12-month period. You may qualify if you:

• Have worked for your employer for at least 12 months
• Have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months before your leave
• Work for an employer with 50 or more employees within 75 miles

FMLA may also provide protected leave if you need time away from work to care for a qualifying family member receiving treatment.

Other benefits may also be available

FMLA isn’t the only program that may help when you need time away from work for treatment. State paid leave may replace part of your pay while you’re away from work. Not every state offers it.

Your employer may also offer short-term disability, which may replace part of your pay while you can’t work because of a health condition. Short-term disability does not provide the same job protection as FMLA.

Do I have to tell my employer I’m getting treatment?

You don’t have to share every detail about your health or treatment with your employer. If you request FMLA leave, however, you’ll need to provide enough information for your employer to determine if your leave may qualify. Your employer may also require documentation from a healthcare provider.

Medical information provided as part of the FMLA process must generally be kept confidential and separate from your regular personnel records.

Still concerned about privacy? Learn more about whether your employer will know if you get treatment.

Can my employer fire me for getting treatment?

If you’re eligible for FMLA and your leave qualifies, your employer generally cannot fire you simply because you took FMLA-protected leave for treatment. When you return from FMLA leave, you generally have the right to return to the same job or a virtually identical one.

FMLA protects eligible leave for treatment. It does not protect prior misconduct, performance issues, or violations of your employer’s drug- and alcohol-free workplace policies. Your employer’s workplace rules still apply.

These protections apply when you’re eligible for FMLA and your leave meets the requirements, so it’s important to understand the rules and follow the process for requesting leave.

How do I request time off for treatment?

If you need time away from work for treatment, check your employee handbook, benefits website, or leave of absence policy for instructions on requesting FMLA or medical leave. This should tell you who to contact and what information or documentation you may need to provide.

You can also learn about FMLA eligibility and your rights through the U.S. Department of Labor before starting the process.

If you’re still deciding whether treatment is right for you, you can talk privately with a Carrum Health Care Navigator about your treatment options and what your coverage includes.

Explore your treatment options privately with Carrum Health

If substance use treatment through Carrum Health is included in your benefits, treatment costs for you or an eligible family member may be fully covered. You can talk privately with a dedicated Care Navigator who will listen, answer your questions, and help connect you with the right level of care at a leading treatment facility that provides proven care.

Carrum Health protects your privacy. Your conversations with a Care Navigator and the details of your treatment are kept confidential and are not shared with your employer as part of your individual care.

You don’t have to commit to treatment to start a conversation. Call 888-728-3011 to speak privately with a Carrum Health Care Navigator and learn about your options.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.