Unemployment in CA question!

[Grateful RN]

Hello, I am in CA diversion program, just finished one year here and I have been clean/sober for 2 years. I was employed at a Rehab hospital for 5 months, and I resigned for complex reasons.

Basically, the DON (also my work site monitor) who hired me did not tell the corporation I was in diversion, just HR. The DON left (or got fired, not sure) and I immediately got phone calls from the administrator asking me about the status of my license, and that she heard from someone I am in some sort of program and she needs to know what it is. I explained it to her, and she said she would tell corporate and let me know what they decide. This went on for a couple weeks (and it was VERY obvious neither she or corporate were diversion friendly, I felt I was under investigation). She told me I was to be put on day shift where I could be more closely supervised (I was working evenings). I asked her if I would have an actual schedule, and she informed me that no I wouldn't, I would have to call each week and see what was available. She also told me that the ADON would be the only person I could have as my work site monitor. This was the ONE person I refused to have as a monitor, as I was VERY uncomfortable talking to her on a personal level or professional level. To me, I need a work site monitor I trust and that I would be comfortable talking to if I ever felt I was in danger. So putting my recovery first, I resigned. This was in May.

I have been applying like crazy ever since with no luck.

So here is my question. I am trying to get unemployment in CA as a last option while I continue to seek work. Has anyone heard of being turned down unemployment due to being in diversion or a recovery program that makes employment more difficult to obtain? Thank you for any response, I really appreciate it!! By the way, disability is not an option for me, as I already looked into this. Thanks!

[catmom1, BSN, RN]

Hi Grateful RN-

I do not live in California, but have previously collected unemployment in my state. I recently completed 4 years of a 5 year probation.

The fact that anyone is on probation is irrelevant to the UI department. What if you were an auto worker and had poor chances of employment because of it?

The problem you would face in my state is that you resigned, for whatever reason. It is very hard to prove you had to resign and here you would be disqualified from 12 weeks of unemployment compensation.

A bit of advice from an "old timer" here: don't expect to be emotionally comfortable with your immediate supervisor. On jobs, we get what we get and can't be choosy, I am afraid. Just toe the line, do what your monitoring contract requires, and you will get through this.

I have been unemployed since May also, and am almost out of money. I am not receiving unemployment compensation and am trying to scrounge some kind of work so I don't get evicted.

Good luck and I hope you have a trusted counselor or sponsor who can advise you on navigating the emotional rollercoaster that early sobriety entails.

Catmom :paw:

[Grateful RN]

Thank you so much for the response Catmom!

Yes, I luckily have a sponsor who has been a great support, along with the other nurses in my support group.

Since I have been in Diversion, I have had good luck with both of my work site monitors/managers. I agree that I cant have too high of expectations when it comes to my work site monitor, but I knew there was a good chance I would have a hard time being completely honest with this lady they had chose for me. And that is a big part of my recovery, since Im working patient care with full narcotic access, I really need to feel comfortable with my monitor so I can talk to her/him. This is the only time I experienced a very uneasy feeling about someone being my monitor.

I was wondering about the fact that I left my job too. I may run into problems with that. When I did my initial claim over the phone, I told them that I had left the job because I had been moved to days and not given a work schedule, 5 months into working. He didn't say that would prevent me from receiving anything, but I wont know until sure until beg. of Oct.

Thank you again for your expertise and suggestions. Its always good to talk to someone who has done this longer than I have.....I am still learning! :)