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Sheilah Powell

Top 5 Reasons Your Business Should Become a Recovery-Friendly Workplace 

Employers and business owners play a vital role in a person’s recovery from Substance Use Disorder (SUD). When people are gainfully employed, they are given a sense of structure, community, and purpose – all things that are necessary to a person’s recovery. A job also provides a person with a stable income and access to health benefits, which are necessary for a person to sustain their recovery. Wellness and recovery are holistic, and through the Nevada Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, Nevada employers and business owners have an opportunity to innovatively address addiction and recovery in the workplace and make a measurable impact in the lives of Nevada workers. 

Check out the top FIVE reasons to become a Recovery-Friendly Workplace: 

  1. IT’S COST-EFFECTIVE

The economic impact of untreated substance use is enormous. Becoming a Recovery-Friendly Workplace (RFW) benefits businesses with outcomes like reduced employee absenteeism, a healthier work environment, increased productivity, improved workplace safety, and lower healthcare costs. By becoming a RFW, you are creating a healthier bottom line for your organization. Let us help you save money! 

  1. SHOW CUSTOMERS YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEES 

You can be a leader in the workforce by addressing a public health crisis. As an employer, you can commit to reducing the stigma often associated with substance use and recovery. Over 107,000 people died from a preventable overdose death in 2021, according to preliminary data, and everyone should take actionable steps to mitigate this crisis. Once you have become a RFW, you will receive an official designation by the Nevada Office of the Governor and signage to display in your public areas, if you like. Let us support you! 

  1. SUBSTANCE USE, ADDICTION, AND RECOVERY ARE VERY COMMON IN THE WORKPLACE

Most people with an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) – nearly 75% of American adults – are in the workforce. Many times, people develop SUD after a workplace injury. And most people use substances in some way whether it be nicotine, prescriptions, or poisoned illicit drugs. Nevada employers can now take an impactful role in creating a healthier working environment that demystifies addiction and SUD. Let us teach you what we know! 

  1. YOU CAN CREATE A MORE POSITIVE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE 

Employees prefer workplace well-being to material benefits. Also, a supportive workplace culture is very important to folks. Perks like wellness incentives, telehealth, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), flexible work schedules, and ‘working from anywhere’ are much more important today than in generations past. Recovery from SUD is multifaceted and goes hand in hand with workplace well-being. If you already have an EAP, we can work within your program and collaborate on more robust SUD solutions. Let us help you! 

  1. SIMPLY PUT – RECOVERY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS 

A recovery-informed culture will increase employee morale, decrease employee turnover, and decrease healthcare and human resources costs, among SO many other benefits. A third of American households have been touched by addiction, which in turn affects the workplace. Now, there is help. Let us help you become a Recovery Friendly Workplace! 

If you are interested in becoming a Nevada RFW, click here to begin your journey. Getting started is SUPER easy and one of our RFW ambassadors will contact you to chat. We can’t wait to help you become RECOVERY FRIENDLY!

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Recovery Friendly Workplace Ambassador

Southern Nevada Recovery Community Center

Our Activities Calendar

  • One-on-one Peer Recovery Support
  • Mutual Aid Meetings & Support Groups
  • Women’s Empowerment Workshops
  • GED or High school Equivalent Preparation
  • Overdose Prevention Training and naloxone (Narcan) Access Point
  • Computers
  • Library
  • Bus Passes
  • Recycled Clothing (Caring Closet)
  • Peer Recovery Support Specialist Training
  • Lounge Area
  • Classrooms & meeting spaces

The Southern Nevada Recovery Community Center offers several spaces open to the groups and organizations to rent for meetings, support groups, trainings, and events. Learn more or contact therooms@forrecovery.org for more information.

Contact us

Person-Directed Recovery

Person-centered recovery is directed, as much as possible by the person – including decisions about who should be included in the process.  The planning identifies just a few small, but meaningful, short-term changes that the individual can focus on helping to reduce some of the barriers or challenges moving forward.  Person centered care should be central to all recovery frameworks.

*Adapted from Person-Centered Care and Planning by Neal Adams, MD, MPH, and Diane Grieder, M.Ed.