Winehouse a Grammy Winner, Sinner

Amy Winehouse won five Grammys last night.

But unlike fellow winners Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, and Kanye West, the 24 year-old soul singer was not at the Staples (SPLS) Center in Los Angeles to accept her awards. Visa complications stemming from Winehouse’s very public substance abuse problems and recovery attempts prevented her from making the trip from London, England. Still thanks to a satellite broadcast she performed a medley of her hit singles, "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" and appeared delighted in accepting her recognition. “I can't believe I've won five awards," Winehouse said.

While her performance via video drew raves, it did not erase memories of another recent Winehouse video, the one of her allegedly smoking crack cocaine which was first reported by The Sun in the U.K. "Sometimes life trumps awards shows," said Cuba Gooding Jr. before introducing Winehouse. And despite winning Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist, Winehouse’s hardware will likely be worth less than previous Grammys, says Drew Lipsher, a partner at Greycroft, a digital media venture capital firm. “Twenty years ago, before illegal downloads, winning a Grammy could translate into a 30% bump in sales,” says Lipsher. “The more likely windfall today would be a contract endorsing a brand."

In Amy Winehouse’s case she’s not a prime candidate. Even without an endorsement deal from say Coke (KO) or Nike (NKE), Winehouse will probably be OK as long as she stays somewhat sober and keeps releasing albums that sell more than 3 million copies. But if you are struggling with addiction your career might not be doing as well. "Sometime we just can't battle things on our own," says Jane Mitchell, an HR recruiter for Adventist Home Health, a health care provider in Maryland. "Sometimes we need help. These days we all have anxiety from the pressures of life. You can't always hide it. You have to be able to open up and ask for help without having a finger pointed at you." 

Admitting a problem with addiction and agreeing to seek help should not cost you your job thanks to the privacy laws contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). "You company cannot discriminate when you are already hired," says Morris Armstrong, a financial planner in Connecticut. "When you go through a group policy, they don't even differentiate between smokers and non-smokers. If you have a pre-existing condition on your record like cirrhosis of the liver you aren't going to get coverage. That's why doctors keep records. But what they don't know, you are covered for." 
 
Chances are good if your employer provides medical coverage then your policy follows the Family Medical Leave Act and American Disabilities Act. If you decide to use your benefits and enter a rehabilitation program you have job protection for up to 12 weeks. "This isn't universal," says Larisa Howard, a Human Resources manager in Maryland. "Always read your paperwork and check for the conditions your job provides."
 
Draper, Inc., an Indiana-based manufacturing company, provides optional long-term disability coverage for an extra $2 per week. "Our company will put a person on medical leave depending on what that need is and they would receive 100 percent pay for the first six weeks," says Linda Brinson, a Human Resources director for Draper. "If they qualify for long term care they would get 50 percent of their pay after that. They would keep their health insurance as long as they were paying their portion of it."
 
According to Howard, an Employee Assistant Program (EAP) is another common benefit that can help people find treatment. "The EAP covers anything from drug and alcohol addiction to domestic violence and financial issues," says Howard. "Most employers offer EPA's that provide access to rehab that covers in-patient and out-patient treatment. But it's access before the fact. Don't get caught and then ask for help. Come forward before you fail a drug test."
 
While there is legislation that aims to protect your right to get help, it is still smart to determine when discretion is necessary, says Mitchell. "When you call the EAP you don't have to give your name to get a recommendation. If they recommend you take family medical leave and your physician has provided a note, you don't have to make it public that this is a drug illness."