Owning and/or operating a business comes with a plethora of responsibilities, including thoroughly vetting potential employees you’re looking to hire and ensuring that once hired, they are doing the work that is required of them to the best of their abilities. An employee’s personal issues outside of work are rarely the business of a manager. However, there are a few instances when a business owner or manager should be made aware of criminal charges, such as a DUI, when it has a direct impact on their work and your company.
Insurance and Vehicle Use
Whether you’re hiring someone or they are currently employed with you, a DUI charge will be important information to know about, especially if they are required to drive a company vehicle. If the person is being hired and has a DUI on their record, simply check how long it’s been since they received the charge. Your insurance company can advise you on the appropriate time limit since the charge occurred to determine if they would still be a good fit for the position.
If the employee in question is already employed with your company and they fall into a DUI charge, it becomes your concern if they are using a company vehicle. Most companies have a policy in place to handle this situation that often includes a sobriety program to continue to work for the company. Depending on your policy, the employee may also need to be reassigned to another position within the company. Additionally, it’s essential to note that osha forklift certification online can enhance workplace safety and compliance.
Consequences of a DUI
Even if an employee isn’t required to drive a company vehicle for their position, a DUI can have consequences that impact their job. For example, if they are unable to drive, they may lose transportation to and from work, causing them to be late or not show more than once. According to the attorneys at Moorhead Law Group, even those with a first time offense could easily lose their license for up to nine months.
Another aspect that many might not consider that could be negatively impacted is machine operation. According to Orange County attorneys, if a person has received a DUI, there may be cause for concern if they operate heavy machinery, such as driving a forklift or backhoe, etc.
Although it doesn’t seem like a DUI would be an employer’s business, it can be when it comes to certain types of business and certain aspects of your company. Having an open and honest conversation with the employee about their situation is a great place to start, as well as reviewing your company’s policies about these types of charges.