Sober Curious Consulting

07/01/2026

Culture beats policy.

A company can have the best rules on paper. But the rules aren't what decide whether someone who's struggling actually says something. The people around them are. Does this place feel safe enough to say the hard thing out loud? And who do they tell first? Almost never the official channels. It's the person standing next to them.

So picture it. Somebody's having a rough go, and they finally say something to a coworker. Or the coworker notices and asks, "you doing okay?" Then what? That's the moment that matters most, and it's the one nobody gets ready for.

I've been spending a lot of time lately with my friend Kyle Zimmer. He's been building peer support programs in the trades for 25 plus years. A master at this, a true OG, and I'm lucky to work next to him and keep learning from him.

We're lining up some workshops and talks this summer to teach these skills. What to say and what not to say. How to help without making it worse. How to have the hard conversation. How to stay curious and actually listen. And how the people doing the helping can take care of themselves too.

Here's the part I want to be clear about. This isn't about demonizing anyone. If you're reading this and getting a little squirmy because you're pumped to get your drink on at the fundraiser golf tournament, I need you too. Something as small as not being pushy about getting your group to drink at your pace. Sidenote, telling on myself, that was me. I was relentless. I thought I was doing people a favor. Truly. I just didn't know what I didn't know. Ease up. Make sure someone actually wants the next one before you hand it to them.

Event planners, this one's for you. Have some good alcohol alternatives. And I mean good, not just water and pop. You've got a budget line for booze. What's the number for the tasty stuff? Up your game. There's a whole world of options now. I'd be stoked to just see a couple kinds of sparkling water on the cart.

Be safe out there. Have a culture of caring. Bill and Sarah, do your thing, a golf tourney with a few drinks is fun and it's a free country. Just know you might be teeing off with Chris, who's having the worst summer of his life and hasn't told a soul. Most of us care about each other. It's built in. We can do a little better on this stuff, and it starts with the culture.

02/02/2026

The hidden cost of pretending substance use is a personal issue

Most workplaces avoid the topic of substance use. It’s seen as private, off-limits, someone else’s business. But silence still sends a message. And it comes with a cost.

You’ll see it in burnout, turnover, absenteeism, preventable safety incidents—things that get labeled as “performance issues” or “culture problems” when often they’re really about unaddressed substance use or mental health challenges.

Leaders don’t need to be therapists. But they do set the tone.

A simple move? Start naming it (as Brené Brown would say). In a team meeting, try:

“We know that substance use and mental health affect a lot of people. If you or someone you care about is dealing with that, you’re not alone here.”

That one sentence can shift the culture. It signals safety, not surveillance. And it’s a practical first step toward being a Recovery Friendly Workplace.

01/26/2026

"Recovery Friendly Workplace"? Ever heard of these three words strung together?

I ask this question a lot.
I’ve asked HR teams.
Safety professionals.
Union leaders.
Rotary clubs.
Executive groups.
Recovery Program Leads.
Judges.
Church Leaders.

To date, only one person has ever raised their hand and said they had seen those three words strung together before.

Not a knock on them. It’s a branding problem.

But wait, there's another branding problem right out of the gates too. Some people say "Recovery Friendly Workplace" and some say "Recovery Ready Workplace." Dang it. Well let me say to you, they mean the same thing. Moving on.

This is not a new idea. I didn’t invent it. There are national frameworks, state efforts, and years of work behind it. And yet, most business leaders and society at large has ever heard these 3 words strung together. "Recovery Friendly Workplace"

This matters.

When concepts don’t have shared language, they tend to stay invisible. And invisibility around substance use at work usually comes down to three things.

Fear.
Stigma.
Shame.

I’ve seen this from the inside. I helped build recovery friendly practices inside a large multinational company, and I now work with organizations of all sizes through my consulting practice. The concerns are consistent.

Leaders worry about doing the wrong thing, so they do nothing.
Managers worry about saying the wrong thing, so they say nothing.
HR worries about risk, so the topic quietly disappears.
But silence is not neutral.

Employees and their families are affected, whether business leaders realizes it or not. A lack of clarity is a signal. Avoidance is a message.

A Recovery Friendly Workplace does not have to be a massive program, though it can be. Starting very small and/or noticing what a company already does, awesome.

It is not about fixing people. It is about deciding ahead of time how your organization responds when real life shows up, which it always does.

If this phrase is new to you, totally cool. Starting with awareness is an excellent first step.

My goal here on Facebook is to share practical, business relevant ways to understand this movement and make it usable at work.

Even googling those three words is a start - you will find LOTS of stuff.
"Recovery Friendly Workplace"

This work matters. I’m grateful to be part of the effort to make it easier to talk about and easier to act on. By being a brand ambassador in this post: Recovery Friendly Workplace or Recovery Ready Workplace (means the same thing).

10/19/2025

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7385725680514281473/

"Drop the two drug and alcohol addicts..." Over the past few years, I’ve spoken with a lot of different groups - leaders, workers, parents, HR teams, rotary clubs, unions, people in recovery, treatment centers. I always enjoy the conversations afterward. Some share challenges at work or at home. S...

06/23/2025

The ROI of Compassion: Why Supporting Recovery Is Smart Business
When companies invest in supporting recovery, it's not just good ethics—it's smart business.
Here's why:
➡️ Retention: Employees feel valued and supported, resulting in significantly reduced turnover. Companies with strong recovery support programs often experience significantly improved retention.
➡️ Productivity: Substance use disorders cost U.S. employers $81 billion annually in lost productivity. Recovery-friendly workplaces actively reduce these losses.
➡️ Morale: A workplace that visibly cares about employee well-being creates a more positive, motivated environment. Employees report higher job satisfaction and a greater sense of loyalty.
➡️ Safety: Employees in recovery experience fewer workplace accidents and injuries, contributing to safer work environments overall.
➡️ Family and Community: Supporting recovery also benefits the families of employees, fostering healthier, more stable home environments that positively impact broader community well-being.

Compassion isn't just good for people - it's great for business.

What steps is your organization taking to become more recovery friendly? Saying "we have EAP" is great, but it is reactive, not proactive.

Let's chat sometime. We can help give you lift.

06/17/2025

What does “Recovery Friendly” actually mean?

It’s not about being dry. It’s about being aware.

A Recovery Friendly Workplace supports people navigating substance issues — whether they’re in recovery, curious about change, or carrying the weight of a loved one who’s struggling.

✅ In policies — like time off to deal with treatment, relapse, or crisis.
✅ In culture — where there’s space to speak without shame.
✅ In leadership — where managers are trained to respond, not retreat.

And here’s the thing:
Most people struggling with addiction aren’t strangers. They’re our employees, our coworkers, or their spouses, kids, or parents.

Supporting them means supporting everyone they’re connected to — at home and in the community.

Recovery Friendly means we stop pretending it’s not happening. And start being a workplace that people can count on.

04/10/2025

Recent podcast with Dr. Kevin McCauley.

Dr. Kevin McCauley shares his journey from Navy physician to addiction recovery advocate, offering profound insights on the neuroscience of addiction and various pathways to healing.Creator of the documentary "Pleasure Unwoven" about the brain sci...

03/19/2025

Substance use challenges in the workplace often go unnoticed—not because people don’t care, but because they’re not aware or don't know what to do.

One honest conversation can change everything. https://www.sobercuriousconsulting.com

If you know someone in HR, or a business leader (big or small), please consider sharing my website with them. Recovery Friendly Workplaces aren’t just the right thing to do—they’re a smart business move. They give companies a competitive edge and support employees, families, and communities. Shame and stigma have gotten in the way.