Taking a deep breath
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Dixie
Posts: 612
Taking a deep breath
My AH just called me. Yesterday was his first day back at work since he got out of rehab. Since his "rock bottom" event happened while on the job, we knew he would be facing disciplinary action. He met with all the supervisors a little while ago. He was given 2 options: 1) face an administrative hearing where he might lose his job, or 2) accept 2 weeks suspension without pay. After reading their report of his actions that day, he went for door number 2.
Now, the legal part of me is saying "take the hearing, we can beat this." My theory... The AMA recognizes alcoholism as a medical illness. How can they fire someone for being sick? That would be like firing someone because they had diabetes right? There's probably legal precedent for this very argument.
The recovering codependent part of me is saying, "hands off... this is just another consequence of his drinking... let him live it and hopefully learn from it."
I'm going with the codependent part of me. But 2 weeks without pay... this is going to hurt... hurt ME as well as him. I never did anything wrong. I don't deserve to be punished. But then, again, none of us do.
Now, the legal part of me is saying "take the hearing, we can beat this." My theory... The AMA recognizes alcoholism as a medical illness. How can they fire someone for being sick? That would be like firing someone because they had diabetes right? There's probably legal precedent for this very argument.
The recovering codependent part of me is saying, "hands off... this is just another consequence of his drinking... let him live it and hopefully learn from it."
I'm going with the codependent part of me. But 2 weeks without pay... this is going to hurt... hurt ME as well as him. I never did anything wrong. I don't deserve to be punished. But then, again, none of us do.
The recovering codependent part of me is saying, "hands off... this is just another consequence of his drinking... let him live it and hopefully learn from it."
My theory... The AMA recognizes alcoholism as a medical illness. How can they fire someone for being sick? That would be like firing someone because they had diabetes right? There's probably legal precedent for this very argument.
I would've taken door # 2 also, BTW.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Dixie
Posts: 612
Absolutely! I wonder how much sooner my A would have found recovery if only I had been brave enough to face and suffer the consequences (which are always suffered jointly). I never looked at it as "enabling" -- I looked at it as protecting myself from scandal, embarrassment, financial harm... By protecting myself, I was also protecting him and his disease. I see that now.
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