Working Fields is honored to share that we have been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Innovation and Inspiration award from Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, given to a company making an extraordinary impact on people and the planet.

Working Fields delivers an innovative solution that fills employment gaps, supports individuals with barriers to employment, and fights the stigma of substance use addiction and past convictions. Inspired by his own personal recovery from substance use addiction, Mickey Wiles founded Working Fields on the belief that people who have made mistakes—yet have accepted responsibility, entered recovery, and are improving—deserve a second chance. 

While our work may look similar to other staffing agencies on the surface, what sets Working Fields apart is our supportive employment model. Our referring agencies link us with associates in the early stages of recovery who are seeking employment—a key component on the path to self-sufficiency. Once referred, our account managers work with our associates on job-readiness and coordinate a successful job placement with one of our many employer partners, while our recovery coaches focus on supporting each associate’s recovery process. Our holistic approach puts our associates in a strong position to succeed, while our employer partners benefit from supported and motivated employees and receive assistance in cultivating a recovery-friendly workplace.

Our unique approach benefits: 

• employers that need competent, dedicated workers, 

• referring agencies that understand the crucial role of employment in the recovery process, and 

• reliable workers who need second-chance employment.

Since January 2017, our mission-driven staffing agency has experienced tremendous growth and depth of social impact. In less than four years, we’ve become a reputable staffing partner in Vermont and have grown to:

• four offices

• five full-time staff

• eight recovery coaches

• 40-50 employer partners

• 50-60 associates actively placed on assignment (and growing)

• and nearly 1,000 total job placements to date

We are humbled and inspired to be this year’s recipient of the Innovation and Inspiration Award. Thank you to VBSR for this meaningful recognition that confirms what our record of success shows: placing dedicated associates in supported employment roles is win-win for everyone. 

And thank you to all our employer partners and referring agencies for your tireless collaboration to provide valuable employment opportunities for Vermonters. Without your compassion and commitment, our work wouldn’t be possible. We truly believe we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what we can do—together.

If you would like more information about our services, reach out here.