February 1st, 2016
Richard`s shift typically begins at 5:30 or 6 a.m. Sometimes he simply didn`t make it to work. He was issued warnings from his employer three times.“My job was on the line here,“ he said. A month later, after calling in sick again, Richard contacted the company`s employee assistance program looking for assistance.
“Actually, I went in to save
my job.“
It wasn`t an easy decision to make. “I was scared to death,“ he said. But he said he soon realized the employee assistance program would not interfere with his job. “They`re like neutral ground, really.“
“They do basically an evaluation of you,“ Richard said. “If you do go to the employee assistance program, they`ll put you in a different treatment program. What (the assistance counselor) will do is send you to a treatment center near you.“
Richard`s treatment began with a one-day detoxification program followed by 30 days of in-patient hospitalization. A 16-week after-care program entailed out-patient counseling sessions five times a week.
Though the employee assistance program at Richard`s workplace pledges confidentiality, Richard admitted it was difficult to keep his alcohol problem a secret from coworkers due to his obvious, extended absence. The toughest part of approaching the employee assistance program was his fear of
“everybody finding out, the embarrassment, the shame, the guilt. I was emotionally broken down at that point.“
But Richard, who has been sober for two years, said he`s glad he made the decision to seek help despite his apprehensions.
“It worked out for the best,“ he said. Still on employee probation, Richard was so impressed with the employee assistance program that he has become a volunteer aid and plans to become a certified addictions counselor.
“I watch people change all the time because I`m involved,“ he said.
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