Recovery-Friendly Workplaces: Lowering Costs Across Turnover, Health, and Absence| Presented by Marin Nelson & Kristi-Dalby Jones

This session explores the hidden workforce cost of substance use disorder (SUD) and its impact on absenteeism, disability, FMLA, and broader leave utilization. Attendees will gain insight into what traditional claims and leave data often miss, including indirect workforce and family impacts that drive cost and risk. The session will also cover how SUD intersects with FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, and Minnesota’s paid leave requirements, helping HR teams better understand compliance considerations and common pitfalls. Finally, we will outline a practical, step-by-step framework for building a recovery-friendly workplace, including policy design, return-to-work practices, and real-world implementation strategies that support employees while improving organizational outcomes.

Meet Marin Nelson - Founder and CEO of Sobrynth

Sobrynth is a workplace benefit built for employees and families navigating substance use, sober curiosity, and recovery. She spent more than 15 years in enterprise software and healthcare technology before launching Sobrynth, and co-founded Soberforce, one of the first sobriety-focused employee resource groups at a Fortune 500 company. She is in long-term recovery and brings both personal and professional experience to every employer conversation. Marin is a leading voice in the recovery-friendly workplace movement and speaks regularly with HR leaders about reducing stigma, supporting families, and building workplaces where employees feel safe asking for help.

Meet Kristi-Dalby Jones, MRC, CRC - Vice President, Income & Voluntary Solutions Practice at Howden

With 25 years of experience, Kristi has guided employers through the complexities of absence, disability, and time-off benefit programs. A recognized industry leader, Kristi brings deep expertise in ADA compliance, workplace accommodations, Return-to-Work and Stay-at-Work programs, and employer leave benefits.

At Howden, Kristi partners with employers to solve their leave and disability program challenges, delivering creative and practical solutions that support their teams.

This meeting is sponsored by Howden! 

Cost

$20 - members
$40 - non-members

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Central Minnesota SHRM (CMSHRM) reserves the right to use any photograph or video taken at any event sponsored by CMSHRM, without the expressed written permission of those in the photograph or video.