How can you make your company more recovery-friendly during the holiday season? Here are some easy ideas:

Center the office party around more than drinks. Activities, like gift swaps, or seeing a performance can accomplish your goals of team building and fun and take the emphasis off drinking.
Vary holiday event menus. Serve nonalcoholic drinks that are as festive and as enticing as any signature cocktail you offer. Don't offer an open bar but charge for non-alcoholic drinks.
Limit "pregaming" by hosting holiday celebrations midday or immediately after work. You can't control who goes out for an after party, but you can at least start the party on equal, and sober, footing.
Make celebrations optional. If you want to give out awards or deliver a state of the company update, plan those during work hours so employees aren't forced to attend events where they feel uncomfortable or their recovery is at risk.
Start a new holiday tradition in lieu of the office party. Consider holding an employee volunteer day at a local food bank or a homeless shelter.
Make SUD treatment widely accessible for your employees who may be actively struggling with alcohol or drugs. Make sure everyone knows what's available. In combination with your efforts to normalize recovery, even more people will get the help they need – and the productivity you need from them.

Prevention and treatment programs work. There are an estimated 23 million Americans in recovery who are creating healthy lifestyles, relationships and communities. Make sure your employees with SUDs are counted among them, this holiday season and all year long.

Instant Insights /

Happy (recovery-friendly) holidays: 6 alternatives to the traditional office party

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