Should I tell a future Employer That I was in rehab for the last month or can I morally avoid it?

Question

I recently checked myslef into a rehab facility in order to get my life back on track. I sold a business I had started and decided to take a little time off to relax, and unfortunetly I enjoyed my vacation a little to much. After 3 months I tried to get back into the swing of things but found that to be harder then anticipated. Rather then continue to struggle I decided to clean up and start fresh, and I am happy to say it worked. However now I am looking into a new career and I know they are going to ask about my 5 months off. Do I need to tell them I was in rehab? I am an honest guy and a very hard worker, I am just afraid they will get the wrong idea about me. What do you think, should I tell them.

Answer 1

CAN MORALLY AVOID ANYTHING IN LIFE...BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLACE YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE.
MANY PEOPLE TAKE TIME OFF BETWEEN JOBS...
DON'T ASK DON'T TELL...

I sold a business I had started and decided to take a little time off to relax,

THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH IF YOU ARE CLEAN AND READY TO WORK...DON'T BURN YOUR BRIDGE BEFORE YOU CROSSED IT...
LET IT BE,,

Answer 2

That you were in re-hab is none of their business, and it probably would work against you. Even if you are hired, they'd be keeping a suspicious eye on you. Also, some firms would be seriously worried that you might cost them more in health insurance premiums.

Now, what do you say about your 5 month break?
You closed your business, but is there some sort of definitive record of when you did so? If not, I'd leave the precise date loose, just fudge it a little. You can admit to taking a vacation before looking for, and starting, a new job because you realize a new employer wouldn't want you taking vacation time off until you'd been there a year. Also you want to be fresh, not tired.

Remember, it is against the law for employers to inquire about your medical history, so keep quiet about it.

Answer 3

Whether they can do it or not legally, they are going to base their perception of you on the fact that you went to rehab. It's a pretty sad commentary on the concept of forgiveness in our society in general that you would have to be ashamed for seeking help and owning up to fixing your life. However we live in a society where we publish people's pasts online and in registers even though they have supposedly "paid their debt" to society.

My advice to you is to let them know you sold your business and took some time off to relax. You had worked so hard that to jump back into the working world would ahve burned you out. Now you have taken some time to evaluate what you want to do, what you want in your career and to mentally refresh yourself and are looking forward to the next challenge. Nobody in their right mind should have a problem with that.

If they ask why 5 months or say it is long, you could mention that there were a lot of loose ends to tie up with the business so you really were not relaxing the whole time

Answer 4

Anything they aren't legally allowed to ask you aren't legally obligated to tell.

That being said, you asked about the -moral- implications. Personally, I have to say that I think you'd be flushing away most opportunities if you go in with full disclosure. And that may be a sad commentary, but it's a simple fact of life.

There's a REASON that these questions are out of bounds from a legal standpoint. Don't say anything. But also don't give them any reason to regret giving you the opportunity.

Answer 5

I agree with cork...if you lay it all out... they might not give you a fair shake...just tell them you took some time off to relax after you sold your business...don't be to vague but leave the rehab out for now....