Will a Spokane or Washington State DUI Conviction Affect my Employment?

November 11, 2017

Washington State’s employers are increasingly performing background checks on both potential and current employees. Many people think that driving under the influence (DUI) is a traffic offense, but it’s actually a criminal offense, so it’s highly likely that a DUI conviction will be revealed on such a check. If you’re asked whether you’ve been convicted of a crime, you’ll need to disclose your DUI conviction. That conviction can have adverse consequences.

Employment at will

The general rule is that the State of Washington is an employment at will state. That means an employer can terminate an employee at any time with or without cause. It also means that an employer can refuse to hire a job candidate for any reason too. Even if a person is the best candidate for a position, a DUI conviction can get in the way of an otherwise great career opportunity.

When you’re already working

There might be an issue on whether an existing employee must report a DUI to his or her employer. For example, somebody might be employed at the same company for 10 years and get charged with a DUI. Disclosure might depend on what company the person is working for and what position he or she is in at the company. Many companies have employee handbooks that detail employee duties and conduct both on and off of the work premises. A DUI might be perceived as a violation of company policy and cause for dismissal. Given the fact that Washington is an employment at will state, it’s unlikely that the terminated employee would have any recourse.

Contact a Spokane DUI Attorney Today

If you or somebody close to you has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, feel free to contact this office for a personal consultation with a Spokane DUI Lawyer. Do that sooner than later. Remember that administrative action by the Department of Licensing will likely be taken long before your DUI case is finished. You’ll want to do everything that you can to retain your driving privileges and your job.

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