If you own a business, you probably have your fair share of worries about the day-to-day operations. But did you know that one potential threat might lurk under the surface of your business? It’s called DUIs (driving under the influence), which could result in severe consequences for your employees and company. If you want to ensure no one on your staff has an outstanding DUI charge, here are five ways to protect you and your business.
Provide breathalyzer tests
Driving under the influence can have severe consequences for both drivers and passengers in the car, so you must take steps to make sure your employees aren’t putting themselves at risk.
You can do this by providing breathalyzer tests randomly throughout the day or night, during work hours, and off time. You can also test them if there is suspicion that they may be under the influence after a night out with friends or coworkers.
If you want more than just a two-minute test on an employee’s breath, consider investing in a program, like EAP or Employee Assistance Programs that will monitor their alcohol consumption throughout their shift (or even over several days).
This will allow you to understand better whether an employee is under the influence while at work. You can also have them sign a contract stating that they won’t consume alcohol while on duty and include specific consequences if caught violating this agreement.
Develop a business security plan
You must develop a security plan to protect your business from DUI charges. The security plan should include procedures for dealing with intoxicated customers and employees. It should also be communicated to all employees, reviewed regularly, and updated as needed.
For example, if you want to ensure your bartenders aren’t overserving customers or serving minors, make sure that part of this plan includes making certain they never accept tips from patrons.
If you have a security plan in place and employees still violate it, it can be used to show that you took reasonable steps to protect your business from DUI charges.
This can help you avoid liability for any harm caused by those who broke the law while working for your company.
Encourage employees to carpool
To ensure your business is protected from DUI charges, you should encourage employees to carpool.
It’s essential not only for safety reasons but also because of how expensive it can be when an employee is charged with DUI. The cost per DUI accident is $20,000 or more. In the US alone, there’s always one alcohol-related accident recorded every 52 minutes.
The costs can be even greater if the employee is injured or killed, so you should encourage carpooling by offering incentives such as free gas, reduced parking fees, and lower insurance rates.
Paying for the cost of a taxi ride home will also help you avoid incurring additional charges later on.
Reduce alcohol sales opportunities
As a business owner, you control how many alcohol sales opportunities you provide employees. Here’s how you can limit the number of options to sell alcohol.
Avoid happy hour at all costs
Happy hours are a proven way to get more people drunk faster, so it is best to avoid them altogether. You might also consider not allowing alcohol sales after midnight if you want to help prevent DUIs in your area.
Never allow alcohol sales on holidays
Nowadays, it’s common for people to drink too much and drive while intoxicated (DUI), which frequently results in accidents. If possible, avoid holding events that end very late at night, as this gives employees more time to spend with coworkers instead of going home.
Suppose you are going to have an event that includes alcohol. In that case, it is best to make sure that there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available, such as iced tea and lemonade.
You can also consider limiting the number of alcohol sales opportunities your employees have by banning happy hours and offering incentives for those who do not drink.
Hire a knowledgeable lawyer
Hiring a knowledgeable lawyer can be the most crucial step in protecting your business from a DUI charge. Here are some questions to ask when searching for an attorney:
Ask or check for references
You’ll want to speak with clients who have hired this lawyer before, so make sure they have plenty of information about their experience with the attorney and their track record.
Ask about the lawyer’s fees
You may think that hiring an attorney means that you are getting better representation, but sometimes it just means that they charge more money. The best thing to do is find out what kind of hourly rate your potential DUI attorney charges and other expenses associated with the case (such as filing fees).
Ask about their availability
Since DUIs can happen anytime during the day or night—and sometimes even on holiday weekends—you need someone who will always be available if necessary (and most attorneys will be happy to serve late nights just like any other day).
Ask about the lawyer’s experience
Even though you may be stressed about your DUI case, it is essential to remember that your DUI attorney will represent your interests in court. You should ensure they have experience with the type of DUI offense you are being charged with (such as drunk driving or reckless driving).
To Wrap It Up
It’s important to remember that a DUI charge can be very damaging to your business. Not only does it put the company at risk of losing its license and facing hefty fines, but it also puts you at risk of losing your business. The key is to take steps now so that you don’t face these charges in the future. By following these five tips, you can protect yourself and your employees from ever having this happen.
