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Could You Lose Your Job Because of a Drug Charge?

Could You Lose Your Job Because of a Drug Charge?

Could You Lose Your Job Because of a Drug Charge?

A drug charge or conviction could have a lifetime of consequences for you, including job loss. While the American legal system is founded on the premise that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, in practice, even a criminal charge without a conviction can have a substantial negative impact on people’s lives. Losing your job could be part of that impact.

One way you could lose your job after being charged with a drug-related crime is through repeated absences. If you are arrested and jailed, it could be several days before you or a family member can call your manager to request time off. By then, you may already have been fired for missing work without explanation. Or when you do call, you may learn that you have no time off available. To attempt to avoid losing your job while in jail, you should tell the first person you reach by phone to have a family member contact your manager about your absence.

Having your driver’s license suspended or revoked and serving a sentence if convicted could lead to job loss as well. For example, if you cannot drive and do not have reliable alternative transportation to work, you may be late a lot. Serving your sentence might mean spending hours doing community service rather than signing up for shifts at work. Employers may fire you for absenteeism or not working enough shifts.

Even more seriously, many employers will fire employees who are convicted of drug crimes because they do not want to employ convicted criminals or they want to maintain a drug-free workplace. Oklahoma employers may drug test their employees for many reasons – excessive absences and poor performance included. Some employers, such as in professional occupations with licensed employees like nurses, require their employees to report any charge or conviction of a crime.

People facing criminal charges or with convictions have very few protections under state and federal employment laws. In most jurisdictions, you may not be fired for attending jury duty or appearing in court because you received a subpoena requiring your attendance as a witness for someone else’s case. However, employers may require you to use sick days or vacation time to cover court appearances for your own criminal case.

Because job loss resulting from a drug charge or conviction is entirely possible, seek out qualified legal representation to advocate for you in court and hopefully reduce the amount of time you spend away from work.

Need an attorney for drug charges in Oklahoma? Clint Patterson, Esq., of Patterson Law Firm, a former Tulsa prosecutor now using his trial experience to defend Oklahomans accused of drug crimes, has the experience and the insight to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case. To schedule a case evaluation, visit Patterson Law Firm online or call Clint’s office at (918) 550-9175.