Can You Still Work While Staying In a Rehab?

Laura Smart - Author for Rehab Clinics Group

Laura Smart - Last Updated: September 21, 2022 | All Sources

Last reviewed: September 21, 2022 by Dr Alexander Lapa. All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

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We would strongly urge that you put your work commitments on hold during your stay in rehab so you can fully focus on your recovery. If putting work on hold is not an option then there may be some alternative options available, continue reading to find out more.

Can You Still Work While Staying In a Rehab?

An addiction to drugs or alcohol can be extremely harmful. It can ruin your physical and mental health, tear families and other relationships apart and have a big impact on your performance and relationships at work.

It is also extremely difficult to overcome addiction without the right treatment and expert help. Residential alcohol and drug rehab are generally considered to be the most effective way to treat serious addictions for a number of reasons. It does involve taking a large chunk of time out of your everyday life though.

A stay in rehab will typically last for 28 days, although other options may be available – some shorter and some considerably longer. This can be daunting and can also be difficult if you have work, family or other commitments. You may well be wondering if you can still work, or keep your job while staying in rehab.

 

Can I work if I go to residential rehab?

The whole point of a residential rehabilitation centre is that you ‘live in’ as a resident. You will be expected to stay on-site for the length of your treatment, apart from certain exceptions like organised walks and other activities. This can help your recovery by putting you in a safe and tranquil place where you can really focus on your recovery.

It also takes you away from the people and places associated with your regular drinking or drug use and makes sure that drugs and alcohol are not readily available to you. Rehab is not a prison but if you regularly leave to go to work, the whole system stops working.

Many people can work remotely of course, especially since the pandemic, but spending a significant amount of time on work matters while in drug and alcohol rehab will not generally be acceptable.

Firstly, it takes focus from your recovery, which is where you should be concentrating your energies. You might not be in any fit state to even think about work-related matters while going through alcohol and drug detox and the days at rehab also tend to be busy and highly structured.

This sense of routine can be good for people in recovery and can also allow the various therapy sessions, workshops, and treatments to be fitted into the stay. Essentially, you might have no time to work during rehab and may be discouraged from attending to work-based issues even during your downtime.

There may be exceptions to this of course. If you run your own business, for example, there might need to be certain work-based communications you have with people outside the rehab centre. In general, though, you will not be working while you go to residential rehab.

 

Will I lose my job if I go to rehab?

A whole other question is whether you will be able to keep your existing job while you go to rehab. This can be a tricky matter. If your drinking or drug use has affected your work performance or put yourself and/or others at risk in the workplace, there may be grounds for dismissal. That is for associated behaviour though, not for attending rehab.

If you have reached the point of admitting that you need help and looking to go to rehab, your employer may be supportive. They are also required to treat addiction the same as any other illness, with the same rights to confidentiality and support.

This may involve providing sick leave (and possibly sick pay) while you attend rehab – but details can vary depending on the situation.

If you are going through issues involving drinking or drug use at work, it is important to get a diagnosis if you want any sort of protection. Your GP is always a good place to start. It’s also worth noting that, while addiction is not considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010, it could give rise to a condition – such as liver disease or a serious mental illness – that is.

In other cases, substance misuse and/or addiction could be a symptom or side effect of another medical condition affecting the employee.

Many of the actual laws relating to drink, alcohol and work are concerned with safety in the workplace. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) lists two of the main relevant regulations:

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – section 2, which puts a duty on the employer to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, “the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees”.
  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which places a duty for the employer to assess the risks to the health and safety of employees. An employer could be prosecuted if they knowingly allow an employee to continue working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and their behaviour places the employee themselves or others at risk.

Again, these regulations are largely concerned with behaviours while drinking or using drugs, and not a subsequent attempt to quit by going to rehab. ACAS does note, though, that many employers these days regard addiction as an illness and construct drug and alcohol policies with treatment and rehabilitation in mind.

It is generally best to talk about these issues with your employer and they may be more supportive than you expected.

 

Outpatient options

Another potential option is to find an outpatient treatment of the kind commonly offered through the NHS. This will still need you to make a commitment and attend therapy and other treatment sessions, but you may be able to organise these around work or arrange time off to attend the sessions.

Outpatient treatment is not generally as effective at treating serious addiction problems as residential rehab has numerous benefits as outlined above. It can still be valuable for many people though and can allow you to address your drinking or drug use while remaining at home and able to work.

If you are working through any of these issues and think rehab could be the right route for you, contact us today to find out how we can help. Alternatively you can call us on 0800 470 0382.

Laura Smart - Author - Last updated: September 21, 2022

Laura is a qualified counsellor and behavioural therapist specialising in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy), ICT (Inner Child Therapy), MI (Motivational Interviewing), Hypnosis and Mindfulness practice. She has experience working with individuals suffering from conditions such as problem behaviours, internet and social media addictions, depression, anxiety, anger management and trauma.

Dr Alexander Lapa - Psychiatrist & Clinical Reviewer for Rehab Clinics Group

Dr Alexander Lapa - Clinical Reviewer - Last reviewed: September 21, 2022

MBBS, PG Dip Clin Ed, OA Dip CBT, OA Dip Psychology, SCOPE Certified

Dr Lapa graduated in Medicine in 2000 and since this time has accrued much experience working in the widest range of psychiatric settings with differing illness presentations and backgrounds in inpatient, community and secure settings. This has been aligned to continuation of professional development at postgraduate level in clinical research which has been very closely related to the everyday clinical practice conducted by this practitioner as a NHS and Private Psychiatrist.
He is fully indemnified by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) and MIAB Expert Insurance for Psychiatric and Private Medical practice. He is fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK with a licence to practice.

Dr Lapa is approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act (1983)

Member of Independent Doctors Federation (IDF), British Association for Psychopharmacology (BMA) and The Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)

Dr Lapa’s extensive experience has also concentrated on the following areas of clinical practice:
– Assessment, Diagnosis and Pharmacological Treatment for Adults with ADHD.
– Drug and Alcohol Dependency and maintaining abstinence and continued recovery
– Intravenous and Intramuscular Vitamin and Mineral Infusion Therapy
– Dietary and Weight Management and thorough care from assessment to treatment to end goals and maintenance
– Aesthetic Practice and Procedures