As the opioid epidemic continues to affect communities nationwide, a new study of national polling data shows that employers have an opportunity to play a bigger role in prevention and recovery.
The survey study, from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation, was conducted among a national sample of U.S. employees to assess their experiences in the workplace. Published Aug. 29 in Health Affairs Scholar, the study highlights ways employers can strengthen support across all four pillars of the federal government’s Recovery-Ready Workplace framework — guidance designed to help employers embrace their role as a key part of the solution.
The framework outlines four pillars of employer action: Acute Response, Training and Education, Hiring and Employment, and Treatment and Recovery Support. According to the study, in employees’ eyes, most U.S. workplaces do not meet the criteria of “recovery-ready” in any of the pillars.
Acute Response
Slightly over a quarter of employees (27%) said their employer offered programs or services to help prevent opioid misuse, with 23% reporting that their employer does not offer programs and services and half (50%) saying they weren’t sure. Just 19% of employees said their employer makes Narcan — a life-saving overdose reversal medication — available on site. Even among workers in manual or physical labor jobs, who face increased risk of workplace injury and subsequent opioid use, that number was 23%.
Training and Education
While most employees (89%) want their employer to provide general information about opioid misuse risks, stigma remains a major barrier. Many employees expressed concerns that receiving such information from employers could compromise their privacy (73%), lead to being treated differently (68%), or raise suspicion from co-workers or supervisors (67%).
Hiring and Employment
The study also found mixed perceptions about how supportive workplaces are when employees seek help. While 72% of employees said they support keeping co-workers in recovery on staff if they’ve been doing good work, one-third (33%) believed their employer would be more likely to fire someone seeking treatment than to support them.
Treatment and Recovery Support
Only 23% of employees reported that their employer offers health insurance covering opioid addition treatment, with 16% reporting that their employer does not offer it and 61% not knowing if their employer offers it.
Opportunities for Employers
These numbers stand in stark contrast to what employees want from their workplaces when it comes to addressing opioid addition and supporting recovery:
- Among employees who did not indicate that their employer offered Narcan on site, 63% said they believe their employer should make it available.
- Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) said employers should provide clear guidance to employees who may be prescribed opioids for pain following an injury.
- And 79% believe employers should support employees in recovery by offering flexible schedules.
Substantially more effort is needed across the business sector to help prevent and address the opioid crisis. The study suggests promising opportunities for employers:
- Provide information about the risks of opioid misuse and targeted information after injury.
- Make Narcan available at worksites and train employees to administer it, potentially in partnership with local public health departments.
- Combat stigma by training HR staff to offer non-stigmatizing support that helps employees with opioid use disorder stay in the workforce — not be pushed out of it.
- Support recovery by providing flexible schedules and time off for treatment when possible.
- Partner with other area employers and public health professionals to offer training and technical assistance.
The workplace is an underused avenue for opioid misuse prevention, support, and recovery. Despite nearly half of U.S. adults who misuse opioids being employed and broad support for employers to be more active in addressing this challenge, most workplaces still fall short of meeting the standards of Recovery-Ready Workplaces. By stepping more firmly into their role as part of the solution, employers can help dismantle stigma, support a healthier and more resilient workforce, and ultimately save lives.
