Is your workplace recovery-friendly? Answer the following questions:
- Is recovery from addiction recognized by you, your colleagues and employer as a strength?
- Is your workplace willing to work with and support those in recovery at work?
If you replied in the affirmative, then congratulations! Your workplace is recovery-friendly, which is a major asset! The staff are fortunate to be part of your workforce.
This article will discuss why recovery-friendly workplace (RFW) policies are introduced, and what it entails.
Substance Misuse in The Workplace
Unfortunately, many workers nowadays turn to alcohol or drugs as a way of dealing with workplace injury and/or stress. Opioid addiction, overdose and misuse are rampant in employers; in fact, according to the American Action Forum, around 2 million people are no longer in the workforce due to opioid involvement. Moreover, 1 in 11 workers suffer from an untreated substance use disorder, resulting in a major loss to U.S. businesses: around $87 billion yearly!
This is where creating a Workplace Supported Recovery (WSR) Program comes in. Creating recovery-friendly workplace policies is essential in order to prevent substance abuse, reduce stigma, and encourage recovery. Establishing recovery-friendly policies can be extremely beneficial to your business, as those in recovery-friendly workplaces miss fewer days of work, have lower health care costs, and stay at their jobs longer.
Intrigued? Read on!
What is a Recovery-Friendly Workplace (RFW)?
Workplaces that recognize the importance of recovery from substance use disorders, and are willing to work with and support employees and employers in recovery, are known as Recovery-Friendly Workplaces. They will encourage a supportive and healthy environment with a strong focus on recovery, and work to reduce the stigmas involved. They will also create a safe and hazard-free milieu by offering support to workers that are struggling with drug disorders and by making it possible for those in treatment to find jobs. In short, RFWs prevent and address substance use disorders and opioid overdose in workplaces.
The biggest challenge in establishing a RFW is the stigma. Many people have a negative attitude towards those suffering from substance use disorders, as they maintain that they’re not worthy of support or access to treatment or recovery resources. Reducing the stigma involves providing education about substance abuse and recovery, and explaining how it’s incorrect to view a substance use disorder as a moral weakness, but rather as a treatable disorder that could afflict anyone.
How to Create a Recovery Friendly Workplace
Is your company willing to foster a supportive environment that will encourage the successes of all employees that are suffering from substance abuse or are in treatment? If your response is positive, read on to get some tips on how to apply this well worthy approach.
Recovery-friendly workplaces adopt policies that:
- Facilitate employment for those in recovery.
- Provide access to treatment and recovery support.
- Educate employees that are in recovery about their rights to protections to ensure they don’t lose their job.
- Reduce the risk of substance misuse by creating a hazard-free environment to help prevent injury and illnesses at work.
- Teach the staff all about substance use disorders and everything involved, including treatment, to raise awareness about the topic and thus eliminate the stigma.
A recovery-friendly workplace will:
- Lower the work demands
- Host social events that are health-focused
- Empower social support in the workplace to help those in recovery
- Encourage workers to turn to alternatives to opioids to help manage their pain
Avenues-a Recovery-Friendly Workplace
Welcome to Avenues, an outstanding workplace that provides a healthy and safe environment and is dedicated to supporting all staff members on their road to recovery. Yes, many of our own devoted and professional employees are in recovery themselves, or are actually alumni that have completed our treatment programs! These grateful people in recovery enjoy giving on what was given to them and love to share their hope with others who are now in the same situation they once faced! Since these staff members have a better understanding of substance use disorders, they can put their skills to great use and help others that are struggling in these areas. Our focus in every aspect is achieving recovery and maintaining sobriety, not only for our clients and their family, but for our beloved staff members too!
You Can Become A Recovery-Friendly Workplace Too!
Unfortunately, about 2 thirds of states do not have an established RFW program. Furthermore, the opioid epidemic cost the United States nearly 1.5 trillion in 2020! These explain why there’s an urgent need for this initiative to be implemented across the country. There are many organizations and resources out there that could assist in the process of establishing a Recovery-Friendly Workplace. Avenues Recovery has reaped the countless benefits of instilling these policies and is growing and gaining immensely from this initiative. We want others to appreciate its advantages too and improve the quality of their workplace.
Feel free to Contact us to hear more about our policies.