Having an employee get arrested for a DUI is something that can be difficult for both of you. There are many repercussions, and they can extend way beyond the direct legal and insurance implications. In some cases, you may have to look into termination, but in others, you might not be able to do this even if they get convicted. This is why it’s important that you understand the situation and what you should do. Here’s how an employee with a DUI affects your business.
It Can Negatively Affect Your Brand Image
One of the first things you’ll need to assess is if there could be some liability issues here. This is why the role of the employee in question will need to be taken into consideration. If they serve a very important role in your business or are constantly in contact with clients, then this can become an issue if the DUI was publicized. This could have PR repercussions that you’ll need to address immediately. You may also have to move your employee to a less visible role.
They Could Not be Employable Anymore
In some cases, your employee may not be able to perform their duties. For instance, there are jurisdictions where people with a DUI may not be able to drive a forklift. Needless to say, that anything that has to do with automobiles, whether it’s as a mechanic, salesperson, or cleaner, will become problematic.
This is why we suggest you check out the rules wherever you are regarding impaired driving offences to know the legal implications. Resources like edelsonlaw.ca are a good place to start. Check the linked blog for an explanation on the differences between the laws in different areas and get a better idea of the procedure.
The Consequences to Employees
Employees should also know how getting a DUI may affect their prospects for the future. Take the following case as an example: an employee who was working for a crops input manufacturer was pulled over and convicted for a DUI. The company had to downsize, so they were let go. While this had nothing to do with the DUI, the person had a lot of difficulty finding jobs in this sector as so many companies had a strict no-tolerance policy for DUIs.
Finding work might be difficult for people depending on their line of work. For instance, if you work in sales, then there is a chance that you will have to operate a company vehicle. In this case, almost all companies will have policies against people with a DUI. Even if you get far in the interview process and they want to hire you, they might still run into issues with their insurer.
However, there is still hope. Some companies will be open to including special clauses that shift responsibility to you if anything happens. You might have to work with a recruiter specialized in your industry if you want to get better chances. They will be able to work with you to have these kinds of stipulations added to your contract. They can also vouch in your favor and make you seem like an attractive candidate.
DUIs can be disruptive both to employers and employees. Employers need to take the steps necessary for the safety of the public, so make sure that you have everything sorted before you decide to keep or fire an employee.
