In August 2012, over 150 guests began the Celebration of Sloan Awards with visits to 12 resource exhibits of behavioral health and employee assistance services. The awards presentation was followed by remarks from Dan Conti, Senior Vice President Human Resources & Employee Assistance Programs & Work-Life at JPMorgan Chase (photo). He brought together the subtle connections between workplace effectiveness, flexibility and work-life and employee assistance programs. He emphasized that in today’s work both the company and the employee have responsibility in scheduling adequate periods of work and then recovery just like athletes do.

Nearly 100 Chamber members and associates attended the Chamber’s 2nd Annual Office Party in November 2012, learning tips for hosting safe and healthy celebrations.

The Chamber recognizes April being Alcohol Awareness Month by creating a list of links to Chamber members with alcohol & drug treatment centers and substance abuse services. Click here to view the list. Many of the well-known area hospitals have behavioral health specialties that include alcohol & drug treatment centers and substance abuse services. There are also single service providers dedicated to treatment.

The Chamber recognizes September as National Recovery Month. Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

Solutions

• Let all employees know that they have a responsibility to become educated about all of the benefits and resources they have. This includes all aspects of their health insurance, wellness programs, employee assistance programs (EAP), medical leave and work flexibility practices.
• Require that your EAP integrate with your health care and wellness benefits providers and know your medical leave and work flexibility so the benefits of health risk assessments and biometric screenings are maximized.
• Expect your EAP to make sure employees know that it offers far more than free counseling by navigating problem solving resources and addressing psycho-social conditions that drive chronic disease states.
• Let your EAP instruct managers on when and how to partner with the EAP to address workplace performance and workplace behavior issues.

Why

• Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a chronic disease affecting 25 million U. S. adults – more than either diabetes or heart disease.
• Addiction to drugs and alcohol is estimated to cost U. S. businesses $100 billion a year through absenteeism.
• Drugs and alcohol use problems do not have to be permanent. Intervention and treatment are effective.
• It is possible for a valued member of your team to recover and remain a high performing talent.

Recent Activities

The 12 Chamber member resource exhibits of behavioral health and employee assistance services at the Celebration of Sloan Awards (8/7/2012) helped guests to realize how their companies might follow-up on three suggestions. Business Leaders, create a supportive culture without stigmas when it comes to employees seeking help for alcohol or drug problems. Small Business Owners & Executives, maintain a drug free workplace policy and provide employee education. Service Providers, collaborate and integrate the delivery of healthcare insurance benefits, wellness programs, health risk assessments (HRAs) and employee assistance program (EAP) assessments and services.

The participating Chamber member exhibitors included:
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Advocate Health Care
Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
Cigna Behavioral Health
Employee Resource Systems
Gateway Foundation
Hazelden
Insights Behavioral Health Centers
Mayo Clinic
Mercy Medical Center
Perspectives Ltd
Resurrection Behavioral Health – Addiction Services

Objective & Outcomes

The goal is to develop the capacity with the business leadership sector to reduce excessive consumption of, consequences from, and contributing factors to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, with emphasis on alcohol and other drugs. The objective is to offer solutions that employers implement to improve workplace well-being with addiction prevention practices and services because they understand there are health and talent returns on their investments.

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce added alcohol and drug abuse prevention to its leadership in positive business environments and healthier lifestyles for employers and employees in 1990. Today, activities are supported by the expertise of members from specialties such as Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Treatment, Drug Free Workplace Consulting Services, Drug Testing, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Providers, HR Services and Human Resources, Workplace Wellness and member health systems with behavioral health hospitals

Useful Resources

This On-line Drug-Free Workplace Policy Builder assists users to build tailored drug-free workplace policies and provides guidance on how to develop comprehensive drug-free workplace programs. This Builder was developed by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read this Working Partners Web site section on crisis management for guidance on addressing immediate problems absent a drug-free workplace program.

Program Manager

Peggy Luce, CAE, Chamber Vice President, (312)-494-6745, pluce@chicagolandchamber.org.