How a DUI Charge Affects Employment

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a charge often punishable with fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. That creates a significant impact on anyone’s life. Those who are facing a DUI charge will find the consequences have a ripple effect on various aspects of your life, including your employment. Talk to an attorney from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC, today.

You May Lose Your Job

There are some situations where getting a DUI can result in the loss of a job. This depends on a variety of factors. If your job involves driving tasks, and you lose your license, you can no longer do that job. There are some jobs that require a person to not have a criminal record. In those situations, you may also lose your job if you are convicted of DUI.

Also notable, if you face jail time in relation to the DUI, you could also lose your job simply because you are not able to report to work. For many people, missing work for court appearances may be a factor in helping you to maintain your job.

In addition to this, there is the risk of violating your company’s policies and employment requirements. If you agree to specific terms and conditions in your employment contract, such as maintaining professionalism, and a criminal charge violates those requirements, you may lose your job. To find out if this applies to your situation, read your employee handbook, or you may wish to ask your employer about the impact of a DUI charge.

You May Lose Your Professional License

Those who maintain a professional license may also lose their ability to work if that license is dependent on maintaining a clean criminal record. For example, many legal, healthcare, government, and transportation jobs require a driver to have a specific type of professional license. Anyone who holds a renewal, employment-related license should take into consideration this potential risk.

Other Factors That May Play a Role in Your Employment

There are other factors that could play a potential role in your ability to work. Consider these potential consequences:

• You lose your scholarship for higher education. For those who are a student and receive a DUI, this could impact your ability to continue your education, impacting where you work later.
• Immigration status can also be dependent on maintaining a clean criminal record. If you are a non-US citizen, a DUI may affect your ability to be hired and remain in the US.
• Travel restrictions can also impact your ability to maintain a job. For those who travel for work, some countries, such as Canada, have the legal ability to bar a person from entering the country if they have a DUI conviction.

It is also important to think about what occurs after your conviction. If you lose your job for any of these or other reasons, you may also find obtaining a new job is difficult as well. Employers who require a clean background check may not be willing to hire you.

In short, a DUI conviction will impact your employment and your employability for years to come. As a result of this, it is often critical to understand what factors are present in your case that could reduce your risk of a conviction.