Stigma at Work: Examining Employer Concerns About Hiring Individuals With Substance Use Histories.

Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) often face obstacles to obtaining employment. Although employment leads to positive outcomes for individuals with SUDs, these individuals still experience low employment rates, which employers' perspectives may influence. Using a hierarchical regression analysis, this quantitative study analyzed various personal and business characteristics that impact employers' perspectives when hiring individuals in recovery. Participants were 382 employers identified through a convenience sample. Of the participants, 51% were male and 49% were female. The findings indicate a negative relationship between employers' levels of concern regarding individuals in recovery, personal characteristics, and business-related characteristics. Moreover, there was a correlation between the level of concern among employers and their previous experiences with individuals with SUDs. A discussion of implications for the field, vocational rehabilitation consumers, and employers, as well as considerations for future research, concludes the article.