understand the employer ’ s requirements , we then promise them that our staffing agency will never send them anyone who doesn ’ t meet those requirements . It removes the anxiety and guesswork from the interview and application process , which allows our Associates and employers to form trusting relationships with each other .”
Wiles says that while he understands why employers might be reticent to hire someone with a history of substance use disorder or a criminal background , he believes that the support and services that Working Fields offers their Associates makes them ideal candidates for employment . “ If you hire somebody from Working Fields who is working with an Account Manager and Recovery Coach , you know that they are receiving help and support for any of the issues that they are having in their lives . Our Associates are actively working on bettering themselves in recovery , and that puts them ahead of a lot of other people . When you hire someone off of the street , you don ’ t necessarily know what ’ s going on in their lives or what issues they ’ re dealing with . With Working Fields Associates , you get a sense of transparency that ’ s hard to come by in today ’ s job market . We work with our Associates to get a real sense of how stable they are in their recovery . We will never recommend an Associate for a job that we don ’ t think they ’ re ready for , because we want to make sure that they can be successful . Under those parameters , employers are actually taking less of a risk hiring someone through us than they are hiring someone through another staffing agency .”
Due to the fact that Working Fields Associates work with employers on a temporary basis , the Working Fields staff is also able to intervene and help Associates with any problems that may arise over the course of their assignments . “ During that time period that our Associates remain on the Working Fields payroll , the employer is essentially doing a trial run of the individual and seeing how they work . If they ever run into problems , all they have to do is call us up and tell us that they ’ re having an issue . That way , we can address the problem and work to resolve it so that the employer doesn ’ t have to worry .”
Over the past year , Working Fields has significantly grown its staff and operational capacities . In addition to opening two new offices in Springfield , Vermont and Manchester , New Hampshire , they have also hired a new Marketing Manager , Daryn Forgeron , and promoted their former Rutland Account Manager , Colleen Hobbs , to the new position of Business Development Manager . Since being promoted , Hobbs has helped to establish relationships with new employers . Their new Chief Operations Officer , Chelsea Bardot Lewis , has greatly improved the efficiency and organizational structure of the entire operation . Their recently-hired Recovery Coach Manager , Brandy Cheney , has helped to streamline their recovery coach program to enhance the services that they provide . According to Daryn Forgeron , Cheney has been able to provide critical insight on how to better serve the needs of their Associates .
“ We recently altered our intake process so that Associates meet with their coaches three times in the first ten days instead of just once a week ,” notes Forgeron . “ In the process of compiling data about our Associates , Brandy realized that they needed more support early-on . Now that we have the resources and insight to make those decisions , we ’ re able to flexibly adapt and rapidly implement substantial changes to help our Associates succeed .”
Working Fields has also implemented a new transportation program for Associates at their South Burlington and Springfield offices . “ The biggest challenges for many people in early recovery are employment , housing , childcare , and transportation ,” says Wiles . “ We ’ re not equipped to do a lot about housing and childcare besides refer people to outside resources at the moment , but we are in a good position to do something about transportation .” As a result of a recent state governmentsubsidized program piloted by the Vermont Agency of Transportation ( VTrans ), Working Fields has been able to procure two transportation vans at 50 % of the normal cost . “ The VTrans program made it possible for us to purchase our first two vans for our South Burlington and Springfield offices ,” says Wiles . “ Burlington has the best public transportation in Vermont , but there are certain employers that are not on the bus route . Taking that into consideration , we offer our Burlington-area Associates transportation to work for the cost of the fare that they would pay to take the bus . They pay for their transportation through automatic payroll deductions , and we ’ re able to help them remove another barrier that prevents them from finding employment .”
Forgeron adds that the transportation program can also serve as a helpful stepping stone for Associates who are in the process of securing a personal means of transportation . “ A lot of our Associates who use the van program can save up the funds to purchase a car , repair a car they already own , or work toward restoring their license if it ’ s suspended . Our aim is to help our Associates become self-sufficient in every sense , and our van program can serve as the bridge that brings them to a place of newfound independence .”
Wiles says that the best thing about working with the Associates at Working Fields is watching them progress in their recovery . “ It ’ s incredibly satisfying to see an individual become successful in their journey . There are these little things that happen along the way , like an Associate getting their first job , getting custody of their children back , or securing safe and stable housing . Every little win is a big win in recovery , and every small victory helps our Associates build the confidence necessary to keep moving forward on the path to future success .”
workingfields . com
VTMAG . COM WINTER 2022 51