The Effects Of A DWI On Your Employment In Waynesville, North Carolina

By James Minick


Everyone knows that jail, community service, fines, court costs, and probation could be part of a DWI sentence. But what other issues can a DWI conviction create? Loss of driving privileges, revocation of a current probationary sentence, increased insurance rates, and embarrassment in your family or community circles are just a few collateral consequences of a DWI charge. Perhaps the most significant collateral damage immediately caused by a DWI charge or DWI conviction (or even pending DWI charge) is the impact on your job. Here are some common questions for those concerned about the impact of a criminal charge on their employment:

Do I have to report my DWI charge to my employer? This can depend on the specifics of your job, however if you have an employee handbook that states that you are required to notify them of criminal charge like a DWI. The handbook will discuss what kinds of things you need to report, and it should tell you who you are responsible of notifying.

What if I'm not required to notify my employer? Should I still report it? Some employers do not issue a handbook to employees, and some handbooks don't address this type of thing specifically. How do you know if you should report a DWI to your boss if you're not required by documented policies? This is tough to answer, and depends on the situation. Perhaps your employer does routine background checks every few months as a matter of routine? In that case, they are going to find out sooner or later and it may be advantageous for you to let them know you received a DWI charge before they discover it. This serves dual purposes: It proves your trustworthiness and honesty, and gives you an opportunity to explain the situation. It is always a good idea to contact a lawyer prior to disclosing such information.

Q. Will I lose my job as a result of a DWI conviction? It depends. For some employers (particularly governmental agencies), a DWI charge could automatically result in dismissal (E.g. officers in the military are at a high risk of losing rank or being discharged when convicted of DUI/DWI). Private employers often have great leeway in setting policies for determining whether to terminate an employee convicted of a DWI charge. Moreover, certain types of charges are likely to be viewed more negatively by an employer than others (e.g. larceny and other theft related charges are often extremely worrisome for employers if the employee is a cashier or handles a large amount of inventory, whereas a DWI is not).

In any event, a DWI can have a concerning impact on your employment, and you always want to check on whether you are required to report this to your employer.

It is very difficult to face a DWI charge alone, and an experienced lawyer like the ones at Minick Law can help ensure that your case is handled with the utmost care. Call today to speak with their attorneys for free, to discuss your case and see how they can help.






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