What a recovery-friendly workplace should really look like

Carrie Bates, Director at Caron Treatment Centers, reflects on her personal experience with addiction and how workplace cultures often stigmatize employees struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs). She highlights the lack of support for employees in recovery and advocates for “recovery-friendly” workplaces that provide ongoing care, flexibility, and inclusive policies. Bates emphasizes the need for HR to recognize SUDs as a lifelong challenge, offering practical support like gradual return-to-work plans and addiction resources. She cites Amazon’s approach as an example of a business that benefits from supporting employees in recovery, with lower turnover and increased productivity.

Read the HR Executive article here: What a recovery-friendly workplace should really look like