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Breaking Down Silos in Employee Recovery
How Recovery-Friendly Workplaces are Empowering Employees
A Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) uses evidence-based policies and practices to encourage a healthy, safe, and productive work environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction.
The need for an effective workplace substance use program
Addiction and mental health issues are increasingly prevalent in the workplace. With more than 70% of an estimated 22.4 million drug users and 80 %of 41.2 million binge drinkers in the U.S. are employed in industrial setup. But according to PEW research center, the effects are much more permeable in society, since nearly 1 in 2 are indirectly impacted from caring for a spouse, friend, or loved one having substance use disorders (SUD), if not themselves. This affects employees as well as employers where the costs to the workplace may be covert and can take the form of health care treatment costs, absenteeism, loss of productivity and safety, reduced job satisfaction and high turnover rates.
But despite these numbers, addiction in the workplace often goes unnoticed, as those struggling with SUD can be very good at hiding their disorder, owing to the prejudiced belief that addiction is a moral failing. Employers can be instrumental in this process of recovery, as a significant number of individuals with SUDs (25%) avoid seeking treatment due to concerns about negative consequences in the workplace.
"It was clear after the first meeting that we made the right decision to partner with FQA Institute. They set us up for the next five years and made thinking about the future more manageable and our goals achievable.”
Ashton Marra, Co-Founder of Reporting on Addiction
FQA Institute and Reporting on Addiction’s collaborative approach
Step 1 – Research. We began with secondary research to establish an understanding of similar organizations working on stigma reduction, media education, or a combination. We also interviewed 16 key stakeholders, representing journalists, journalism educators, addiction science experts, and experts through experience, to get feedback from the community that Reporting on Addiction works with. We gained helpful inputs on potential new tools, the importance of collaboration, and the need to raise awareness of solutions more broadly.
Step 2 – Collaborative Workshops. With a strong research foundation from step 1, we met in a series of workshops with leadership to conceptualize and align on the strategic plan. We started by discussing the long-term vision and refining Reporting on Addiction’s target audience, program scope, and intended impact. Last, we identified gaps and actions to fill them between 2023 and 2027, being thoughtful about interdependencies and feasibility.
Step 3 – Plan Creation. As an output of the work, a detailed implementation plan and strategic plan were established. The implementation plan identified 4 strategic goals and 49 tactical actions. Reporting on Addiction is using both deliverables to guide their priorities over the next five years and further clarify their plans with their partners.
Looking to scale their operations and grow their impact, Reporting on Addiction decided to hire FQA Institute for Social Impact to help them align on their long-term vision and establish a strategic plan. The engagement was broken into three main phases – research, workshop discussion, and plan creation. The Reporting on Addiction team and FQA Institute team worked collaboratively, had thoughtful discussion, and iterated together on the final deliverables.
We are grateful for the opportunity to support Reporting on Addiction as they work to transform media accounts of addiction and recovery and reduce stigma and discrimination towards this chronic, treatable disease.
To learn more about Reporting on Addiction, please visit their website and check out their strategic plan.
To learn more about FQA Institute for Social Impact, please visit our services page or contact us via email.
A Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) uses evidence-based policies and practices to encourage a healthy, safe, and productive work environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction.
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Write to us at contact@fqainstitute.org