One of the first goals out of rehab is finding employment. A good job that supports you while allowing you to continue your recovery journey is critical. Unfortunately, many call-centers prey on people fresh out of rehab in Florida, offering jobs scamming people in exchange for good pay and flexible hours. It may not be obvious when you first start the job it may be a scam, but in time it becomes clear through the principles of your recovery program you are hurting yourself and others with every call you make. So, how does working at a scam in recovery affect you spiritually?
How do you answer this question? By understanding what spirituality is and how to live along the principles of spirituality. It is also important to recognize what a scam job looks like and how to handle your relationship with your recovery when you recognize you are scamming others.
What Does Spirituality Mean In Addiction Recovery?
Spirituality is not religion. You can be a spiritual person without practicing a specific religion. And you can be in a religion without being a spiritual person. So, what exactly is spirituality?
Spirituality is a personal experience of trying to practice the 12-Step principles in all your affairs and accumulates in the understanding of a Power outside oneself (Step 11) and a spiritual awakening (Step 12). This Power is experienced as a loving Higher Power that helps us detach and drives us to show love and compassion towards ourselves and others in recovery. This Power helps us connect with everything and everyone around us with new purpose and perspective on life.
Addiction disconnects us from life and drives us into a dark existence where only the substance matters. Spirituality pulls us back out of addiction and into a life focused on the experience, strength, and hope demonstrated in recovery.
Spirituality is a way of living and connecting with everything and everyone through the compassion and love we have received. When we practice spirituality in all our affairs, we experience joy and love despite hardship.
Spirituality is a way of life, not a set of rules to follow. Living through personal hardship with courage directs every activity, including how we do a job. So, if you recognize a job you are working is harming others, such as a call-center scam, how should you handle the situation? How does working at a scam in recover affect you spiritually?
How Does Working At A Scam In Recovery Affect You Spiritually?
Convincing people to give a company money on false assumptions is a scam. Scams hurt people by preying on fears to persuade them to give money for things not needed. Most people will agree that hurting others, even while showing compassion or love, is not good recovery.
Is scamming the same as a slip? Since we try to practice the principles of recovery in all our affairs, if we recognize a scam we cannot stay in that job. Again, spirituality is not a rule based system, but a deeper sense of connection with humanity through a Power greater than yourself.
But the question remains, how can you tell if you are working at a scam in recovery?
Signs You Are Working At A Scam In Recovery
Work-at-home and call-center jobs are on the rise. While these positions offer potential for flexible hours and good pay, the reality is many of these positions are scams. CBS News reports that for every legitimate job, there are 60 scams in operation. Not great odds for finding a flexible, well-paying job in the industry right out of rehab.
If you accept a call-center job, look for signs of scamming people. If your job requires you to do any of the following activities, you may need to quit.
- Cold-call people to warn them of a virus on their computer and offer a pricey solution.
- Cold-calling family members with a loved one in rehab to convince them to switch recovery facilities, doctors, health insurance, or sober homes.
- Use scare tactics to convince the customer to buy the product offered.
- Requiring the customer to pay a large fee upfront without immediate access to the product.
- You are required to ask for sensitive private information from customers on a cold-call.
- If you are required to use new scripts for various companies often.
- If you may not give your name, business information, or place customers in contact with upper management.
These are not the only warning signs of working in a call-center scam. Ultimately, you must listen to your intuition. As you are practicing the 12-Steps in all your affairs, you will have a stronger connection to your Higher Power and spirituality. If you feel like something is wrong with your job, listen to your instincts. Speak with your sponsor and decide your next action step.
How To Make Amends After Working At A Scam In Recovery
Once you realize you have been scamming people for your job you may feel guilt, shame, and anger. After removing yourself from the job, you should make amends to the people you have hurt. It will be impossible to list everyone you have harmed (Step 8) in this case. Instead, write a general letter of regret to all the people you called while not aware you were scamming them.
If you knew of the scam and continued working for the company, you will need to write a letter of apology since you knew of your actions. While you cannot send this letter to make direct amends (Step 9), it will help release the emotions you have from scamming people.
After you write your letter of regret or apology, you need to make amends in another way. Again, you cannot reach anyone personally to restore the money they lost, but you can still make amends. Call the Better Business Bureau and report the company. You can also file reports with websites that alert the public of scams.
Don’t Let Working At A Scam In Recovery Jeopardize Your Sobriety
It’s easy to fall into self-hatred after hurting other people, even if you were not aware of the scam. Don’t let your past involvement in a call-center scam jeopardize your sobriety. If you feel like abusing substances, contact Aion Recovery at 888-811-2879
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