You likely have many concerns on your mind if you are charged with or convicted of a DUI. In addition to worrying about potential jail time, the loss of driving privileges or high fines, you might naturally worry if your employer will be notified of your DUI charge.
Police officers and courts in Missouri do not generally notify employers when their employees are charged with DUI, but that does not necessarily mean that your employer will not find out.
How your employer could learn about your DUI
You typically cannot hide a DUI charge from an employer if your job involves driving. Since your driver’s license is normally suspended with a DUI charge, your employer might be immediately notified if you are required to drive for your job.
Additionally, your DUI charge is accessible to your employer if it becomes a public record. However, your employer would need to specifically search the public record or perform a background check on you to discover a DUI this way.
You have a higher chance of a DUI conviction being discovered as part of a background check by potential employers. Not all employers conduct background checks for prospective employees but background checks are required for certain positions.
If you are currently working, your employer may not discover your DUI if they do not regularly conduct background checks on current employers.
Should I tell my employer?
However, depending on your profession, it might be in your best interest to disclose the DUI to your employer if you fear they may discover it in the future and worry that it could negatively impact your career. You should carefully consider the pros and cons of disclosure before doing so.
Whether your employer cares about a DUI charge or conviction depends on your specific profession and your employer’s policies. An employer with positions that involve driving or a high degree of responsibility may care more about their employees’ DUI records than other employers.
Some employers have strict policies on criminal records, including DUI convictions. It depends on the employer. One employer might have a strict “no criminal record” policy, while another employer’s policy may only require no criminal convictions for violent offenses.
Additionally, it is important to remember that although your employer may not doubt your ability to continue to perform your job to the best of your ability, having employees with criminal records could damage their reputation. Overall, it is best to assume that your employer will likely care about your DUI charge.
Addressing a DUI while job job-hunting
If you are unemployed at the time of the DUI offense, prepare to address the issue when you are seeking employment. Recognize that for some potential employers, a DUI charge or conviction will be a deal breaker. Other employers could appreciate your honesty and transparency.
No matter what your situation, it is clear that you potentially have a lot to lose with a DUI conviction. A thorough investigation into the situation can reveal any defenses that may be available to you.
