We launched the HRchat Podcast nine years ago. Since then we’ve published over 830 episodes plus a bunch of extras. I honestly cannot think of many episodes I’ve been involved with that have left a bigger impact on me than today’s edition.
In HRchat episode 834, I talk with Carrie Bates, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Director of Strategic Growth and Advocacy at Caron Treatment Centers.
Carrie isn’t just celebrating over a decade of sobriety – she’s helping to change how workplaces approach addiction recovery.
Over 26 million Americans report struggling with addiction, with countless others suffering silently. Furthermore, 80% of people who abuse substances are employed. Yet stigma and fear of career consequences keep many from seeking help through their HR departments or employee assistance programs. This silence allows addiction to progress unchecked, affecting productivity, attendance, and overall culture.
Caron Treatment Centers stands out in the recovery landscape through its focus on brain health and neuro-restorative care. Using advanced technology like PET scans, they examine blood flow and neural activity, often discovering that patients have been misdiagnosed with conditions like ADHD or bipolar disorder. This neurological approach treats addiction as a medical condition rather than a “moral failing” – a crucial distinction for workplace policies.
Tune in as Carrie shares candidly about losing her career in sports marketing because of a lack of supportive recovery protocols. “There was no culture, no environment to which this was an acceptable conversation to have,” she explains. This experience fuels her advocacy for HR policies that treat addiction with the same compassion as other medical conditions, including graduated return-to-work plans and appropriate accommodations.