"Can Getting Drunk One Night Follow You Forever?" - 8/23/17 Edition
Stephen Says Column




Dear Stephen:

I am in my early 40s and am vice president of sales for a midsize furniture company in the Midwest. I have worked for two of the "majors" in different parts of the country as a regional vice president. I have done my work in the field and have now come home to enjoy life as a senior executive.

Here is my dilemma: When I was in my early 30s as an RVP in a major west coast market I had a major drinking problem. One of the best parts of my job was the opportunity to go out with my clients and entertain in style. I worked with major A&D firms, end users and dealers and couldn't get enough. It seemed like everyone in the early 2000s wanted to be lavishly entertained, and the reward was a lot more business for my company.

It never occurred to me during the time that I was becoming reliant on alcohol. My wife at the time suggested I was drinking too much, but I dismissed her concern without a second thought. It was only after I got a DUI driving back from a client dinner that I really started to feel the ramifications of my drinking, both at home and at work. I am embarrassed to say I was driving a company vehicle, my wife was forced to bail me out of jail, and I was stuck in a nightmare.

Despite all of this I continued to believe I did not have a problem. I insisted the restaurant overserved me, made my drinks more stiff than the usual and that I couldn't find a cab even if I had wanted to (there was no Uber at the time). The list of excuses went on and on.

A year later, I got so drunk at a major A&D event in our showroom I fell asleep at the event. I slept in the showroom the whole night and had to be woken up the next day by the showroom manager. I was immediately written up, brought through an internal HR program and went to rehab, which was covered by the insurance I received through my company (thanks to the Mental Health Parity Act). I am proud to say I went through rehab and have been sober now for 12 years, but as any alcoholic will tell you, recovery is a constant battle.

Within six months of leaving rehab, I was fired from my Fortune 500 company and am now the VP of sales at a much smaller firm. I am not ashamed to admit I am a recovering alcoholic. Recovery is a constant struggle in my life, and I feel proud of the person I have become through this process, but it seems no matter how hard I try, I cannot escape the ghost of the man I was 12 years ago.

I am now applying for new jobs at the executive level, but keep getting turned down. I suspect this is largely because of the stories people have heard about my rough years. I worry falling asleep in that showroom is going to hang over my head forever. I have three beautiful daughters to put through college, and I don't know what my next step should be. How can I break out of this cage I find myself in and begin moving toward the greener pastures I have spent so much time and effort trying to find? I know I made mistakes, big ones. However, I have spent well over a decade atoning for them and making amends in my personal life. How do I rehab my career now?

A Friend Looking for Answers
 

Dear Friend:

I receive many, many emails and letters from people in rehab or 12-step programs. In a lot of ways I regret not printing these letters sooner. Your concern here is extremely important and more common than you might think. Unfortunately, addiction is widespread today. Many are dealing with alcohol dependence and almost as many are struggling with drug addiction. It is my hope this response can be helpful to anybody looking to rebuild their career after tackling the tremendous demon of a substance abuse issue.

Today, as you point out, the law requires insurance offered through any company with more than 50 employees cover the costs of mental health care, which includes addiction rehab. This also means one can take up to 12 weeks of leave to attend any insurance-approved rehab program under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) — which updated the law you cited — ensures rehab is covered under any employer-offered insurance, and the FMLA protects employees from being fired for seeking the help they need. These laws, taken together, have made huge progress in how the workplace treats substance abuse, but we still have a ways to go. This applies to your current job, but more importantly it applies to job searches you may conduct in the future. As you so elegantly point out, certain rumors about past actions can have tremendous ramifications for your career.

When I address this question in my public speaking or to any of my clients, I explain to them a person in recovery should never be judged any differently than any other candidate. Employers should judge candidates on their experience, work ethic, attitude and nothing else. Not skin color, gender, sexual orientation or recovery status.

I want to give your strong account space to speak for itself. I hope some hiring managers read this piece and understand the mistake they make by considering the past actions of those who are in recovery to make decisions about their hiring in the present.

Unfortunately, I cannot offer much other advice. All I can say is you are an incredible example for those who are struggling with these issues now. You will land on your feet; it sounds like you already have. Accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Stephen
 

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Stephen Viscusi is a bestselling author, television personality, and CEO of The Viscusi Group,
global executive recruiters located in New York.
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