Do I Have to Tell My Boss About My OWI Arrest?

An OWI conviction in Michigan can lead to serious criminal penalties that can have a negative impact on your personal life and professional reputation. Fortunately, getting arrested doesn’t mean that you are guilty of the crime, which is why it is important to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney to help you obtain the most favorable results in your case.

However, you may be wondering if you are required to tell your boss about your OWI arrest. Although whatever happens on your personal time is none of your employer’s business, there are certain work-related factors that may be present in your case.

The following are common situations in which you may be required to report an OWI arrest to your boss:

• Your employment contract states that you are required to inform your employer about any criminal arrests or convictions
• You drive a company vehicle
• You have a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• You hold a license from a professional board (e.g. doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.)
• You work for a job that requires insurance (e.g. postal worker or air traffic controller)
• You hold a security clearance

If one of these situations applies to your case, you must report an OWI arrest to your employer. If your job doesn’t require you to report an arrest, you can choose to tell your boss or not.

Keep in mind, an OWI arrest results in the suspension of your driver’s license and your attendance at court hearings, which could result in frequent tardiness and absences, which can catch your boss’ attention. It may be wise to be upfront and honest with your employer about your arrest, rather than them having to hear about it from others.

For more information about OWI arrests in Okemos, contact White Law PLLC today at (517) 316-1195 and request a case review.