How Do I Transition Back Into the Workplace After Going to Treatment?

Considering a return to work after going to rehab can cause anxiety for many. While companies do a great job of providing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or health insurance that covers the cost of drug or alcohol treatment, there is almost no guidance after the employee returns to the workplace. Some tips about returning after completing treatment:

Call Your Supervisor

If you have been out of the office for a time, you should start your process of going back to work by scheduling a call with your manager. Depending on your situation, you may also need to contact human resources, especially if there is a possibility that you will be on some sort of “last chance” or “return to work” agreement when you're back in the workplace.

The critical thing here — and going forward — is that communication needs to be an essential part of what you do to rehab your image in your boss’s eyes, and a conversation before you return to work begins to lay the groundwork for that.

Call Your Allies

Think about your connections at work and who you could reach out to before your return. And more importantly, take time to reach out to them. I think this is a conversation that warrants a phone call or face-to-face meeting, but if you feel more comfortable with text or email, go ahead.

I want to make sure that I stress here to be careful about who you tell and, base your actions on your personal situation. Having someone to confide in is an ideal scenario to gain support, but if you don’t feel you have that, it is better to say nothing.

If you decide to speak with a co-worker or two, the conversation does not have to be a big deal. If you want to reveal your struggles with substances — assuming they don’t already know — then go ahead. But never feel that you have to admit anything you are not comfortable with.

Revisit Your Job Description

Are you still employed by your company, but you actually quit working a while ago? Employment is a two-way relationship. You provide your employer value - in the form of your labor and expertise - in exchange for the employer providing you value - in the form of income and benefits. If the value of your work has been far less than the value of what the employer has been paying you, at some point, the employer is going to revisit whether the relationship is still a mutual fit.

If alcohol or drugs have impacted your career, there is a good likelihood that you haven’t been the best employee you could be, and your boss has noticed. They hired you for your current job due to your skills and abilities and because your employer had a specific need to satisfy. You keep that job based on your ability to demonstrate that you can serve those needs as an employee. If you’ve been falling short, the best way to make sure that you get back up to speed is to look at your job description.