Webinar

Substance Use Disorder at Work: Building Recovery-Friendly and Safety-Ready Workplaces

Sep 23, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Overview

Substance use disorder touches workplaces in every industry. This puts employers in a powerful position to both improve worker well-being and strengthen their organizations. Proactive, supportive approaches to substance use disorder can positively impact employee attendance, performance, retention, and well-being. Industries with physically demanding or safety-sensitive roles, such as construction, mining, manufacturing, and service occupations, often benefit from early engagement and thoughtful workplace strategies. Employers who address substance use disorder can see measurable returns and play an important role in maintaining a safe and productive workplace while helping employees access support, treatment, and pathways to recovery.

In recognition of National Recovery Month, join the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN) for a practical discussion about how employers can respond to substance use disorder in a way that improves workplace safety and supports employee recovery. Presenters will draw from research and promising practices across industries to share approaches employers can adapt to their own organizations, highlighting how prevention, response, and recovery support work together to provide a comprehensive approach to worker health, safety, and overall well-being.

What You Will Learn:

How understanding the impacts of substance use disorder on business can help employers strengthen safety, support consistent attendance, boost performance and retention, and promote workforce stability.
Ways employers can foster recovery-friendly and safety-ready workplaces that help employees thrive and contribute fully.
Strategies for responding to workplace concerns, including focusing on observable behavior, using clear procedures, and connecting employees with appropriate resources.
Practices that help employees stay engaged or smoothly reenter the workforce, enabling employers to retain skilled talent and build a productive team.

Featured Speakers

Ashley Bryant, Extension Associate, Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability
Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training
Dr. John S. Gaal, Director, Worker Wellness Program, Missouri Works Initiative

Real-time captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Please request any additional accommodations via the registration form.

Registration

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

First Name *

Last Name *

Title *

Organization *

Email *

Confirm Email *

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone

Accessible Accommodation requests/comments (leave blank if no accommodations needed). We require accommodation requests a minimum of 10 days prior to the event for all accommodations.