About Certification
Become a Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace
Build a stronger workforce by supporting employees in recovery, and their loved ones. National RFW Certification recognizes employers that put recovery-supportive policies and practices to work.
What certification means
National recognition for supporting recovery at work
Certification through the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute recognizes employers that support employees in recovery from, or otherwise affected by, substance use disorder by implementing recovery-supportive policies and practices. Offered by the only body that nationally certifies employers, it sets national standards across workplace policies, hiring practices, benefits, and education. Organizations that achieve RFW Certification demonstrate leadership in reducing stigma, promoting access to recovery resources, and strengthening employee well-being.
Build a stronger workforce by supporting employees in recovery, and their loved ones.
The certification framework
Certification is built on four key areas
Key area 01
Culture
Building a workplace culture where seeking help is safe, supported, and free of stigma.
Key area 02
Hiring & Retention
Fair, recovery-inclusive practices that help employers attract and keep talented people.
Key area 03
Benefits
Health and workplace benefits that treat recovery at parity with other chronic conditions.
Key area 04
Education & Awareness
Ongoing training that equips managers and teams to recognize and respond with confidence.
How certification works
The certification process
A clear, supported path from first interest to national certification.
Learn & Assess
Submit an interest form, attend an orientation, and receive a readiness assessment to aid in reviewing your current landscape of resources.
Implement
Adopt key Recovery Friendly practices across the four core areas:
- ✓Culture
- ✓Hiring & Retention
- ✓Benefits
- ✓Education & Awareness
Apply
Submit documentation and achieve certification, earning national recognition as a Recovery Friendly Workplace.
What is a Recovery Friendly Workplace?
The definition behind the certification
A “Recovery Friendly Workplace” (RFW) is a place of work in which the employer, in collaboration with employees, establishes, maintains, and continually enhances policies, practices, and a culture and work environment that are supportive of current and prospective employees in recovery from, or otherwise affected by, substance use disorders. A Recovery Friendly Workplace is a business or organization that…
Is equipped with knowledge, information, tools, and resources about SUD and recovery to help employers effectively prevent and respond to substance use in the workforce.
Recognizes stigma associated with SUD and recovery and uses education, discussion, and trainings to address and challenge that stigma.
Has equitable acknowledgment, and accompanying procedures and policies, that treats SUD and recovery the way other chronic health conditions are treated.
Provides support for employees seeking to find, or maintain, recovery, or seeking resources for their loved ones.
Establishes a culture of comfortability when there is a need for support services, whether for themselves or their loved ones, that eliminates some of the fear with coming forward.
Is Certified, achieving National Recovery Friendly Workplace Certification.
Why get certified
Benefits of national certification
Certified workplaces gain recognition as industry leaders, enhancing employee satisfaction, workforce stability, and corporate reputation.
- ✓
Use of the Nationally Certified RFW seal as an emblem of distinction.
- ✓
Reduce stigma in your workforce and among your investor, client, and consumer base.
- ✓
Attract talent from the pool of people in recovery or impacted by substance use.
- ✓
Listing on the Institute’s website and presentations.
- ✓
Joint press release option.
- ✓
Promotional assistance and digital support to communicate this achievement internally and externally.
- ✓
Exclusive access to an online community platform to interact with other certified businesses.
- ✓
Ongoing access to free educational webinars and emerging research.
- ✓
Access to existing policy samples.
- ✓
Opportunities to speak and showcase your programs at national forums and conferences.
- ✓
Opportunities to participate in the Corporate Council and Advisory Board.
- ✓
Invitation to the National RFW Employers Conference.
Who should apply
Any employer with operations in the U.S.
Employers with operations in multiple states, or employers with no active statewide RFW program, are welcome to request an invitation to receive an application.
Start your certification
Request an application
We are currently accepting requests to apply for national certification. First, complete the interest form to indicate your interest in receiving the certification application. Institute staff will then be in contact with you to determine next steps.
The full certification application is for multistate and multinational employers with employees based in the U.S., or employers in states without an established state-level Recovery Friendly Workplace program. If you are not sure whether your state has an RFW program, complete the interest form and we will help connect you to the right resource, whether that is national certification or state-level programming.
The certification interest form is currently hosted on the Institute’s live site. The full application (Gravity Forms) will be migrated into this site in a later phase.
Learn more about the standards
To learn about the research behind the standards, how consensus was built, who reviewed them, and what the standards are, review the certification documents and the recorded webinar.
Ready to become a Recovery Friendly Workplace?
Join the employers building a recovery friendly nation. Request your application, or reach out with questions, we look forward to hearing from you.
