Page 33 - BusinessWest July 10, 2023

“A lot of people suffer from different things, whether it’s substance-
use disorder, alcoholism, mental-health issues, and they don’t ask for
help because the stigma attached to it. It’s a sign of weakness for a lot of people.”
MassHire Holyoke recently recognized about a dozen local businesses for taking the Recovery Ready Workplace pledge.
Staff Photo
client who used to go to lunchtime recovery meetings, but could no longer do that at a new job. “So we had someone talk to the employer, and the employer decided, ‘well, you can come in early, and you can have a longer lunch and just stay later.’
“That makes a big difference to someone,” she went on. “Something simple like a flex schedule made all the difference.
And that person’s still working today, and he wouldn’t have had the courage, I think, to do this if we didn’t have a recovery coach talking with him along the way, and if the employer wasn’t aware of our services and aware of what a recovery-friendly place is.”
Rivera-Reno called stigma a more deadly killer than cigarettes, heroin, or whatever substance because it keeps people in the shadows and keeps them from asking for help. Companies that pledge to help break that stigma, she said, are changing lives.
“A lot of people suffer from different things, whether it’s substance-use disorder, alcoholism, mental-health issues, and they
don’t ask for help because the stigma attached to it. It’s a sign of weakness for a lot of people. It’s a sign of, like, maybe you’re not ready to work here. So by getting us into the different employers’ offices, talking about recovery as a community, we really make a difference in their lives.”
Garcia emphasized that, with the cost of turnover and difficulty retaining talent these days, it makes business sense for employers to support their employees who are struggling with some of these issues, rather than letting them fall through the cracks.
“Sometimes it’s not even the individual that’s suffering from personal addiction; it’s a son or a daughter or a significant other that impacts them and their performance in the workplace,” the mayor said. “So we’re
taking a much more proactive approach when dealing with our
Recovery
Continued on page 58
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DON’T TAKE “O“UR WORD FOR IT DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
All these years of doing business with Hogan Technology has been and continues to be a positive and dependable experience. Hogan’s staff are prompt and knowledgeable when dealing with any issues in a very kind and courteous manner. Hogan Technology has been a great asset in helping with the growth and reliability of our systems.
Matt Vella, Elm Electric
Contact us today.
81 East Street Easthampton, MA 01027
413-585-9950 teamhogan.com
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MONTHLYFEATURE
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