Possible Ways Your Supervisor Can Help
Your employer may be able and willing to take steps to support your recovery efforts. For example, your employer may choose to:
- Make adjustments in your schedule or allow personal time for you to attend support meetings or counseling sessions.
- Change job expectations.
- Provide additional workplace supports and extra supervision.
- Assign other employees to tasks or positions that are triggers for you. For instance, your supervisor might:
- Excuse you from purchasing liquor for an office party, if you are a recovering alcoholic.
- Assign someone else to pass out medications to residents in the group home where you work, if you are a recovering drug addict.
- Select another employee to manage the company betting pool on sports games if you are a recovering gambler.
How to Disclose
If you decide that it is in your best interest to disclose your recovery status, be sure to focus on the positive and disclose only what is necessary. Consider these DOs and DON'Ts to help guide your disclosure.
- DO:
- Focus on the positives. Stress your recovery efforts, your successes, your skills, and your contributions to the success of the company. For example:
I have been sober for two years and helped my team win an award for highest sales in our department. - Use past tense in reference to the addiction in general terms, or – better yet – describe yourself as currently in recovery, to make it clear that your troubles are behind you. For example:
I used to be addicted to drugs.
I’ve been in recovery from a past drug problem for more than three years now. - Obtain a reference from a recovery counselor. Ask him or her to confirm your recovery efforts and status.
- Point out areas of temptation or triggers. Explain what sets you off and what you need to avoid. For example:
In order for me to steer clear of all forms of gambling, would it be possible for you to schedule someone else who can work the lottery machine during my shifts?
- Request accommodations. Ask your employer to assist you in maintaining your recovery by making accommodations or exceptions for you. For example:
Would it be okay for me to catch up on my work rather than attend the champagne luncheon?
-
DON’T:
- Don’t share personal details about how you became addicted.
- Don’t discuss things that happened while you were under the influence of the substance or behavior.
- Don’t make the employer think that you still long for that lifestyle.
- Don’t show behavior that might point to impairment or relapse, such as missing scheduled project or task deadlines, meetings, or neglecting other job duties.
Alternatives to Disclosure
Remember that it is your decision whether or not to disclose your addiction history, as well as your recovery efforts and status. Unless you need your supervisor’s help to remain in recovery, disclosure is usually discouraged because it can negatively affect what others think of you.
If, however, you know that an employer is fair, reasonable, and supportive of employees in recovery, your disclosure will unlikely result in a negative reaction. But if you are unsure how an employer will react, or know that the reaction will be unfavorable, it may be wiser NOT to disclose. In these cases, you may need to be prepared with alternatives, such as:
- Asking for guidance and coping strategies from your counselor, sponsor, or other support system.
- Preparing general statements about an addiction problem within the family as your reason for avoiding certain situations.
- Relating your discomfort around alcohol or other substances to a past bad experience with someone, or to religious objections.
- Offering different options, such as ordering in pizza instead of meeting at a bar-and-grill.
- Staying away from tempting situations by explaining that you need to handle a personal issue, take care of a family member, etc.
Final Thoughts
As you decide whether to disclose your recovery status, keep in mind that you are not defined by your addiction history. Take pride in your efforts to maintain your recovery, as well as your commitment to becoming or remaining employed.
Practicing your disclosure in advance can help you handle the conversation in the best possible way. Be sure to describe your ability and eagerness to make a positive contribution to the workplace in a clear and convincing way. This attitude should help you find success in current and future employment, as well as in life.
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