December 9, 2024

Thrive Insider

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Arrested While Employed: Managing A Major Speeding Ticket/DUI So It Does Not Impact Your Career

Dealing with an arrest is something that is not only stressful but could impact your career for years. Most people are not as worried about the initial arrest as the reaction they will garner from their family, friends, and even their employer. For this reason, there are some people that opt not to tell their employer if the arrest doesn’t impact their ability to do their job. For others that opt to tell their employer receive mixed reactions. The impact all depends on the exact situation, because certain arrests will be viewed as forgivable while others can cause you to lose your job immediately. In the case that you have received a questionable speeding ticket or have been charged with a DUI/DWI the following tips are to help manage your arrest in a way that has little to no impact on your career. 

Find An Experienced Attorney To Represent You

The attorney that you choose is directly going to impact your case. You want to pick an experienced attorney that has handled cases with your specific charge in the past. Criminal defense lawyers build rapport with prosecutors and can get a great plea deal. There are also diversion programs for first arrests for some charges. The charges will be dropped with successful completion of the program which can include substance abuse counseling or even anger management. The attorney will explain the process to you for each step of the case which can help bring clarity to a confusing situation. A speeding ticket attorney might have tactics that can help lower a fine or drop it completely. 

Remote Employees Have An Advantage

If you work remotely, an arrest might be far less of an issue. You can take time off on days when you have to attend court without raising suspicion. Employers might not be as strict on employees that are arrested when they won’t meet coworkers physically. Looking into your employment paperwork and the employee handbook is essential. If arrests are not explicitly stated to be reported to management then keeping it to yourself is a great option. You don’t want someone finding out about your arrest leading to a broken company policy and potential termination.

Be Proactive About Remedying Issues That Caused The Arrest

Substance abuse is a cause of a number of arrests with differing charges linked with driving. Everything from theft to battery can be linked with substance abuse. Seeking help for this problem will likely be viewed favorably by a judge. Even attending anger management after a battery charge can be viewed as a person trying to improve themselves. These will likely be required if you are convicted or take a plea deal as the terms of your probation. Documenting the help you are getting is very important as showing you made progress in a program is important. You might even be able to knock out some terms of probation before the case is even complete. 

Being arrested is not the end of the world, even though at times it can feel like it. It is always important to remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. Even if you are guilty, the evidence gathered could have been collected illegally which would make it inadmissible. At the end of the day, every situation will ultimately be unique and therefore so will the outcome. It is recommended you use the tips listed above to minimize the impact that an arrest can have on your career. In the end, you will be glad that you took the proactive approach of managing your arrest appropriately.