Can a DUI Affect My Job?

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If you are facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges in the Denver area, you’re probably concerned about how a DUI conviction would affect your current job and future employment opportunities – this is a valid concern indeed.

You may even be wondering, “Can my employer fire me if I’m found guilty of DUI?” For starters, a first-time DUI in Colorado is punishable by five days to one year in jail. So, if you are incarcerated for an extended period of time, your job may not be there when you get back.

Second of all, it’s important that you know that Colorado is an “employment-at-will” state, which means that if you do not have a contract that states otherwise, your employer can “let you go” whenever they want and they are not required to give you advance notice.

Generally, the only exceptions to the rule are discrimination, a violation of public policy, or when there’s a contract in place, which governs the termination process.

Going further, if your employer feels like your DUI is bad for business and they decide to let you go because of it, they are not legally required to offer an explanation. In other words, they have every right to fire you because they don’t approve of your DUI, however, they are under no obligation to explain that.

To learn more about Colorado’s employment-at-will laws, click here.

While employers can fire someone for a DUI in Colorado, not all employees are fired for getting a DUI, it has a lot to do with the employer’s views on DUI, the employer’s policies, and whether a DUI can directly affect an employee’s credibility.

Occupations That Frown Upon DUIs

While any employer may frown upon a DUI, not all employers will consider it a big deal. Still though, there are certain occupations that don’t approve of DUIs, and we are going to include them here.

Types of jobs that can be negatively affected by a DUI:

  • Delivery drivers
  • School bus drivers
  • Commercial truck drivers
  • Any job in the Armed Forces
  • Any job that deals with children
  • Jobs that require a security clearance
  • Any jobs that are in the public eye
  • Jobs in the medical profession, especially if it was a drug-related DUI
  • Any job that requires driving, including salespeople and real estate professionals

It’s important to keep in mind that in many cases, a DUI, even a misdemeanor DUI without any aggravating factors can and will affect one’s employability for years to come. Why? Because, a DUI remains on your criminal record indefinitely, and there are many employers that will not hire people with any criminal record – all the more reason to fight your DUI charges!

Facing DUI charges in Denver? Contact my firm to arrange a FREE case evaluation!

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