When it comes to a DWI arrest, you probably don’t want too many people to know about it. Maybe family and a few close friends. But what about your boss? Do you need to tell him about your DWI arrest. Here’s a few tips for reporting DWI’s to your employer.
Reporting DWI’s: Should You Tell Your Employer?
In general, a DWI arrest does not mean you are guilty– a jury has not convicted you. So technically, you aren’t guilty and it’s really just your personal business. However, there are certain circumstance that would require you to tell your boss about your DWI.
If Your Job Requires You to Drive
One reason you may have to end up reporting DWI’s is because your job requires you to drive. If you travel a lot and spend time behind the wheel for work, you may need to inform your boss. That’s because since you are driving for the company, your company could be liable if you get an accident. For this reason, most companies have a policy that requires you to tell them of any traffic tickets your receive.
If You Have a Company Car
Much like driving for the company, you probably will end up reporting DWI’s if you have a company car. When you use a car under the company’s name, they are a liable party. So they normally want you to keep a very clean driving record if you have vehicle through the business. In most DWI cases, you will face a license revocation. For this reason, you’ll probably have to tell your employer who will then need to inform the insurance company.
If They Have A Policy Requiring It
In some cases, it’s company policy to inform your supervisor of an arrest or other law violations. You’ll want to know whether your employer takes this stance or not. In many cases, you can find this information in employee handbooks or other policy books. You may consider speaking with your HR representative. Although, you may be hesitant about this if you want to avoiding reporting DWI’s to your boss.
In short, a DWI arrest is very personal. Unless you have special circumstances around your job, you shouldn’t have to report your arrest. However, these factors may pertain to you and cause you to end up reporting DWI’s to your employer.
