Trailblazing Staffing Agency ‘Working Fields’ Expands to Massachusetts

Mission-driven staffing agency Working Fields is expanding operations to Massachusetts, the organization announced today. 

The company acquired Greenfield-based alternative staffing agency Harmon Personnel Services (Harmon) from Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV) on December 25, 2022. The acquisition will go into full effect in January 2023. 

“Our team at Working Fields is excited to bring our supportive employment model to the Pioneer Valley,” said Mickey Wiles, CEO and founder of Working Fields. “Our unique model has proven to be tremendously effective in several regions, and we look forward to being a good community partner in Greenfield.”

The award-winning staffing agency partners with local and national companies to provide long-term employment opportunities, predominantly for individuals who face barriers to employment, such as housing, justice involvement, transportation, or recovery from substance use. The program matches each worker with a trained peer coach to provide support and guidance and promote accountability. 

“We’ve found that the deep connection between employment and support is a key to success,” Wiles said of the organization’s community-spirited approach. 

CAPV Director of Communications Clare Higgins described Working Fields as the “perfect partner” to take over Harmon. 

“We are aware of the impact Working Fields' approach has had on the companies and clients it works with,” Higgins said. “We believe Working Fields is the perfect partner to take over Harmon because of its strong mission alignment and track record of success.” 

The organizations look forward to a smooth transition. Harmon’s longtime Staffing Coordinator, Tess Champoux, will stay in her role as an Account Manager for Working Fields and operate out of the same location at 326 Deerfield St. “The work we've done in western Massachusetts will continue, with new innovations and support,” shared Champoux. “I love that we'll now be able to offer free peer coaching to our workers, and I'm so happy that we will continue to be a referral and working partner with Community Action Pioneer Valley."

Founded by Wiles in 2017, Working Fields is based in Burlington, Vermont and currently operates in seven Vermont counties, as well as New Hampshire’s Manchester and Seacoast regions. Greenfield will be the company’s fifth office and will also enable the company to extend its services into the Brattleboro area of Vermont.

Multiple companies have partnered with Working Fields, including Casella Waste Systems, UPS, Schlotterbeck and Foss, Rhino Foods, and Dynapower Corporation. 

Wiles, who created Working Fields based on his own decades-long journey with addiction and recovery, said he hopes the agency will become “the leader in New England for providing job opportunities and support to a population that struggles every day to meet those needs.”

Job seekers, employers, and recovery/peer coaches interested in working with Working Fields should contact daryn@workingfields.com. For more information about the organization, visit workingfields.com.