Recovery Friendly Workplaces

Substance use disorders (SUD) impact all workplaces. According to the National Institutes of Health, 75% of adults with untreated SUD are part of the US workforce – and they miss around 50% more workdays than their fellow employees.

A Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) keeps employees on the job while they recover from SUD and has policies that support the recovery process. These policies emphasize help, hope, and realize the economic potential of healthy employees.

Employers employees and customers all benefit from Recovery-Friendly Workplace policies. Among the benefits for businesses are an expanded labor force, increased employee well-being, decreased turnover, improved productivity and engagement, and reduced health care costs. Employers adopting such policies help to reduce societal stigma and misunderstanding by fostering a culture in which SUD is recognized as a treatable health condition from which one can recover, and people in or seeking recovery are welcomed and supported in the workplace. These policies support the organization's EAP’s.

Creation of a Recovery-Friendly Workplace is good for the bottom line. Each year companies lose millions of dollars to employee absenteeism, presenteeism, healthcare costs, and turnover. Not only are your employees affected by substance use disorders, but the families of employees are, as well. This has a multiplying effect for an organization's employee related costs.  

By adopting policies and programs that equip workplaces to become safe places for employees to recover from substance use disorders, everyone benefits. Workplace morale improves, productivity improves, employees lead healthier lives.