Trying to keep my cool...
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Trying to keep my cool...
Well today my boyfriend (sober for a year on Feb 16th) just got an email from the medical advisor at his job that is requesting proof that he's "no longer" an alcoholic. He's employed as a truck driver and DOT doesn't allow anyone whose been "currently" diagnosed (whatever the hell that means) with alcoholism to drive. I'm trying not to add to his anxiety and freak out but this is bullsh*t and I'm livid.
He's provided documentation to them that he's sober and dates he was in outpatient treatment, he's subject to random testing as a condition of employment, and has given them letters from his therapist, sponsor etc. Now they want proof that he's NOT an alcoholic as if there's a cure for it?? As if one day he'll wake up and not have this disease. Unbelievable!!
Just needed to vent, I don't want to vent to him and make things worse. I have faith that it'll work out even if that means him having to work somewhere else. Unfortunately, my crack addicted father had more luck in the employment than my boyfriend has been having and my father's been a user since he was 18. I can't help but feel like I'm reliving some part of my childhood and I'm scared sh*tless.
He's not my father by a longshot, but I'm scared of the uncertainty and un-predictableness of it all.
Any advice, comments, or stories would be great. Thanks for reading!!
He's provided documentation to them that he's sober and dates he was in outpatient treatment, he's subject to random testing as a condition of employment, and has given them letters from his therapist, sponsor etc. Now they want proof that he's NOT an alcoholic as if there's a cure for it?? As if one day he'll wake up and not have this disease. Unbelievable!!
Just needed to vent, I don't want to vent to him and make things worse. I have faith that it'll work out even if that means him having to work somewhere else. Unfortunately, my crack addicted father had more luck in the employment than my boyfriend has been having and my father's been a user since he was 18. I can't help but feel like I'm reliving some part of my childhood and I'm scared sh*tless.
He's not my father by a longshot, but I'm scared of the uncertainty and un-predictableness of it all.
Any advice, comments, or stories would be great. Thanks for reading!!
Maybe he could ask for another physical by a DOT medical examiner? That doctor would know exactly what "current" means for licensing purposes. Also, what is the company policy? Some workplaces/contracts have specific definitions (such as within a 5 year period) so it's probably important to know what the exact criteria is here.
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The company policy is diagnosis within the past 5 years. He did in-patient treatment at his former employer for the first time 7 years ago. He was fired from his former employer a year ago for failing a breathalyzer and started out-patient treatment a month later in February of last year after being let go. I'm guessing his diagnosis started at his former employer? But I have no idea
Maybe he could ask for another physical by a DOT medical examiner? That doctor would know exactly what "current" means for licensing purposes. Also, what is the company policy? Some workplaces/contracts have specific definitions (such as within a 5 year period) so it's probably important to know what the exact criteria is here.
He might also want to consult an employment attorney. I believe federal law prohibits discrimination against alcoholics unless their use of alcohol poses a safety threat. With a year's sobriety and random testing, it seems to me that his FOREVER alcoholism should not be a bar to employment.
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I'm thinking the same thing. I'm fairly certain that an A is a protected class and he's not doing anything against company policy. He's been a driver for 8 years and frankly he doesn't think he can do anything else. They want the paper work by Wednesday. He's already asked his doctor to say that "he's not an alcoholic" and fill out the paperwork but I feel uneasy about it the whole thing.
He might also want to consult an employment attorney. I believe federal law prohibits discrimination against alcoholics unless their use of alcohol poses a safety threat. With a year's sobriety and random testing, it seems to me that his FOREVER alcoholism should not be a bar to employment.
Here are a couple of links you might want to look at. Note that this is NOT my area of expertise: https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/conten...91/PHD1091.pdf and If the driver admits to regular alcohol use, and based on responses on the driver history, further q | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
There's a recent court case from the Eleventh Circuit (Florida, Georgia and Alabama)that held that someone who had JUST been discharged from treatment still had a "current clinical diagnosis" but it didn't determine at what point it's no longer a "current clinical diagnosis." It's certainly worth consulting a lawyer about, IMO.
There's a recent court case from the Eleventh Circuit (Florida, Georgia and Alabama)that held that someone who had JUST been discharged from treatment still had a "current clinical diagnosis" but it didn't determine at what point it's no longer a "current clinical diagnosis." It's certainly worth consulting a lawyer about, IMO.
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