🎯 Goal: Develop a safe space and confidential self-referral process so employees can ask questions about the policy and request support for substance use
After rolling out Westside Logistics’ new substance use disorder policy, HR Director Cordella Jackson turned her focus to what came next: making it safe to ask for help. She knew real understanding came not from reading a document, but from open, honest dialogue.
Cordella organized all-team meetings across departments, creating safe spaces for supervisors and employees to ask questions and express concerns. She opened each session by reinforcing the policy’s supportive intent: to protect employees, not punish them.
Questions poured in—about confidentiality, job security, and how to support coworkers who might be struggling. Cordella answered with transparency and empathy. Then she walked everyone through the new self-referral process. Employees could reach out to her directly, call the EAP, or submit a confidential request through the intranet. Coming forward before an incident would be treated as a step toward care, not a disciplinary issue.
For those who preferred privacy, Cordella offered confidential one-on-one sessions. A few weeks later, Devon, a warehouse lead, booked one. He’d been struggling since a back injury and had been afraid to say anything. Cordella connected him with the EAP and treatment options and explained how his leave and his job would be protected. “I thought asking would cost me my job,” he said. “It didn’t.”
Emilia followed up with materials addressing common questions, while Stan worked with managers to apply the policy consistently. Step by step, Westside Logistics was becoming a workplace where asking for help was met with support, not stigma.
- “Help me design a confidential self-referral process that explains who employees can contact, what happens after they reach out, and how their job is protected”
- “Generate a list of likely employee questions about our new substance use policy and compassionate responses for each”
- “Help me create a script for one-on-one conversations about substance use that maintains professional boundaries while showing support”
💡 Pro-tip: Name at least two self-referral contacts, such as HR and your EAP, so employees never have to go through their direct supervisor to ask for help. Add an anonymous question box (physical or digital) for those not ready to talk yet, and use common questions to build a living FAQ.