Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW's) support their communities by recognizing recovery from substance use disorder as a strength and by being willing to work intentionally with people in recovery. RFW's encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction. The Town of Simsbury (CT) is taking steps to be recognized by the State of Connecticut's Alcohol and Drug Policy Council as a Recovery-Friendly Community, a community who supports and welcomes ALL of its residents and makes it easy for those in recovery to stay healthy and substance-free. As such, they, with the help of the campaign champion, A Promise to Jordan, are identifying those businesses in Simsbury who are open to hiring people in recovery and being recognized as such. Did you know:
• People in recovery are highly motivated to work because employment grants them the opportunity to get their lives back.
• People in recovery are loyal and committed to the employer willing to give them a chance and help them achieve financial, social, and personal stability. In fact, workers in recovery are the LEAST likely to leave their employers. Their turnover rate is 21% lower than workers with no current or prior disorder.
• People in recovery are less likely to take sick days, and have an average of 9.5 extra attendance days per year than the general workforce.
• If the individual has worked the 12 steps or a similar program, he or she has embraced principles like honesty, humility, and integrity, which serve them well both personally and professionally.
• Those who have completed a treatment program also have learned the importance of self-care, which often translates into increased productivity and focus at work.
• It can cost significantly less to support an employee into recovery than to recruit, train, and grow the skills of a new hire. The idea of a “Recovery Friendly Workplace” is so important that the State of Connecticut Departments of Labor, Public Health, and Mental Health and Addiction Services have teamed up to launch a resource to help Connecticut businesses get “on the road to recovery”, www.recoveryworksct.org. There, you’ll find plenty of tips and resources for becoming a more recovery-friendly workplace. For more information, or to have your business name added to this site, please contact A Promise to Jordan at info@apromisetojordan.org or (860) 390-1391.
