Taking time off work for rehab in Australia

Every workplace is different, and this post is general information, not legal advice. But many people find there are more options than they expected, and that they need to share less than they feared.

The kinds of leave you may be able to use

The Fair Work Ombudsman is the best place to check the rules that apply to you. In general terms, under the National Employment Standards:

• Paid personal (sick) leave. Full-time employees get 10 days a year, and part-time employees get a pro rata amount. Unused personal leave carries over from year to year, so you may have more saved than you think. It can be used when you are unfit for work because of a personal illness or injury.
• Annual leave. Most full-time employees accrue four weeks a year. You can combine it with personal leave.
• Unpaid leave. Many employers will agree to a period of unpaid leave, especially for health reasons, if you ask.
• Long service leave. Depending on your state, award or agreement and how long you have worked there, this may also be an option.

Your award, enterprise agreement or contract may give you more than the minimum. Casual employees don't get paid personal leave, so planning ahead with your employer matters even more.

What to tell your employer

You generally don't have to tell your employer that you are going to rehab, or what you are being treated for. It is often enough to say something like: "I need to take some time off for a health matter. I'll be under treatment and can give you a medical certificate. I expect to be away for about this long." You can choose to share more if you trust the person and it would help, but that is your call.

If you do decide to tell your manager or HR more, it can help to:

• choose one person, rather than telling a whole team
• ask how the information will be kept and who else will know
• agree in writing on your return date and any check-ins while you are away.

Medical certificates

Your employer can ask for reasonable evidence that you are unfit for work. A medical certificate from your GP usually confirms that you are unfit for work for a period, without needing to name the condition. Ask your GP what they will include. If you want to ask Sapphire what written details we can provide, such as program dates, ask us on the first call.

Employee Assistance Programs and employer help

Many workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides free, confidential counselling sessions. Your employer is usually not told who uses it. Some employers also fund treatment or extra leave. It is worth checking your HR policies quietly. Our paying for treatment page covers employer support alongside payment plans and super.

If substance use or mental health problems are linked to an accepted workers' compensation claim, the insurer may fund treatment, but it needs their approval before admission.

Privacy with us

We contact you only the way and at the time you choose. With discreet mode, our texts and emails come from "S. Health" and never mention rehab or recovery, and we only leave a voicemail if you say that's OK. We don't contact anyone, including your employer, without your consent.

If you can't step away completely

A live-in stay is not the only option. Sapphire's outpatient program runs three full days a week for four weeks, while you live at home, which some people manage alongside reduced hours. After a residential stay, the transition house includes help with work and study as you return. You can compare the options on our programs page.

Coming back to work

Returning is easier with a plan. Some people go back on reduced hours for a few weeks. It helps to think ahead about work drinks, late nights and stress, and to keep your aftercare appointments in the diary as firmly as any meeting. Your aftercare plan at Sapphire starts on day one, so the return to work is part of the plan, not an afterthought.