Not only is employment post-recovery necessary for most of the 850,000+ individuals living in addiction recovery in Pennsylvania, but it’s also a huge indicator of success in long-term sobriety. The benefits of being hired and working after achieving sobriety aren’t just economic—they’re psychological and social. People who work after completing treatment make more social connections, feel more appreciated and valued by society, and can better process and eliminate the negative internalization of addiction stigma and discrimination. Here are some of the other benefits of working in sobriety:
- Lower relapse rates
- Lower chances of engaging in criminal activity
- Less reported parole violations
Below, you and your loved ones can learn about different businesses, establishments, and communities that welcome employees who are recovering from addiction.
Are There Businesses in PA that Respect Continuing Recovery Care?
Yes! While St. Joseph Center For Addiction in Port Matilda doesn’t expressly offer career or job-training programs for our residential addiction treatment program graduates, our alumni program provides support, networking opportunities, and sober activities that bring communities together. The program is committed to seeing our residents thrive and grow personally, spiritually, and professionally—so when we hear about businesses and jobs that respect and embrace people in recovery, we want to spread the word.
Before we introduce one particular industrial and pro-recovery business to you, it’s helpful to keep in mind potential key responsibilities of recovery-friendly businesses so that you can identify them. These businesses:
- Recognize signs of impending relapse and implement strategies for responding to them
- Offer support outlets for employees who appear to be or communicate that they’re struggling with relapse triggers
- Understand the cost-effectiveness of providing time off for mental health and recovery purposes and having methods in place to compensate recovering employees
Recovery-Friendly Workplaces Exist
What we love about recovery-friendly workplaces (RFWs) is their helpful role in promoting the 5 Ps of relapse prevention:
- Purpose: by creating a business that’s open to employing people in addiction recovery, owners provide the opportunity for these employees to set and achieve professional and financial goals
- Practice: recovery-friendly businesses allow employees to practice their sober coping skills in challenging—sometimes stressful—situations on the job
- Perseverance: these businesses allow employees to strive and work toward goals despite setbacks
- Prayer/Meditation: working hard for promotions and upward mobility in these job settings encourages employees to stay connected to the spiritual source that sustains them
- Praise/Positive Feedback: these jobs are open ground to receive constructive feedback, and words of praise that can boost our self-esteem and make sobriety that much more rewarding
The positive reach of recovery-friendly businesses helps close the under-researched gap in understanding between recovery, sobriety, and the workplace. Addiction, after all, is an occupational harm as much as a social harm—preventing people from earning what they need to meet their needs and reach their goals. Along with our healthcare professionals at St. Joseph Center for Addiction, these businesses uplift communities by seeing recovery from addiction and mental health disorders as a sign of strength and value.
In the Spotlight: Envirosafe Stripping Inc. in Carnegie, PA
If you or your loved one is interested in working with, preparing, and painting steel structures, Envirosafe is the company for you. If the preparation and painting aren’t your speed, the sandblasting and bridge maintenance involved on the job may attract you. The current owner of the enterprise, George Vorel, is father to a daughter who struggled with addiction, and his company goes out of its way to hire people who have gone through exactly what she did. Vorel gives second chances in the form of reinforcing monuments like the Jerome L. Greene Space, the MetLife Stadium, and chunks of the reconstructed Van Wyck Expressway.
Find Recovery-Friendly Workplaces in PA Today
Again, while we don’t offer career services, we may be able to point you in the direction of suitable jobs and roles when you choose us for recovery treatment. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with a dedicated organization to find more businesses for your job search. No matter what, St. Joseph is here for you and your family, and we’ll do all that we can to ensure you find a sustainable and rewarding life in sobriety.
