Topic 1: Defining a Recovery-Ready Workplace

Welcome to the Creating Recovery-Ready Workplaces training! We are excited to guide you through this course. Together, we’ll explore how workplaces can support individuals in recovery by fostering inclusive, supportive, and stigma-free environments.

Let’s start by defining recovery. According to SAMHSA, recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is deeply personal, and workplaces can play a critical role in this journey by eliminating barriers and embracing inclusivity.

A recovery-ready workplace acknowledges the value of lived experience and strives to create policies and practices that promote wellness for all employees. Whether it’s through flexible scheduling, providing peer support programs, or offering confidential resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), these practices benefit employees and employers alike.

Did you know, according to the US Department of Labor’s Recovery-Ready Workplaces factsheet, that businesses that adopt recovery-friendly policies report a 25% increase in employee engagement, a nearly 15% reduction in turnover rates, and on average nearly 10 percent fewer days of unscheduled leave per year than other workers? These policies not only support individuals in recovery but also contribute to a thriving and productive workplace.

Resource Reference: The Policy Template provides examples of how recovery-ready workplaces align with organizational goals and policies.

Resource Reference: The Action Plan Template highlights DEI considerations such as multilingual resources and cultural competence training.