Modern Tools

Can you excuse an employee from jury duty?

Can you excuse an employee from jury duty?

Sample letter from Employer to excuse Employee from Jury Duty Jury service or duty is an obligation on a citizen to serve and act on a legal panel in court for a period as a member of a jury and carry out the responsibility to contribute to a verdict in a case.

Can a employer fire an employee for serving on a jury?

As the employer, you must allow an employee time off to serve on a jury. The Revised Code of Washington ( RCW 2.36.165) prohibits any employer from firing or harassing an employee who is summoned to court to serve as a juror. An employer who intentionally violates this statute could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

What happens if you work 8 hours on jury duty?

Additional employee protections: Employee who serves eight hours of jury duty may not be required to work that day. Employer penalty for firing or penalizing employee: Criminal contempt: punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days’ imprisonment, or both.

Can a company be liable for jury duty?

May be liable to discharged employee for compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Paid leave: According to Opinion of the Attorney General 89-55, employers must pay an employee’s wages while on jury duty, minus any funds the employee receives for jury service.

Can a employer contact an employee during jury duty?

There are no laws barring employers from contacting an employee during jury duty. Employers should be aware that wage and hours laws regarding paying employees for all time worked would still apply.

Additional employee protections: Employee who serves eight hours of jury duty may not be required to work that day. Employer penalty for firing or penalizing employee: Criminal contempt: punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days’ imprisonment, or both.

Do you have to pay for jury duty?

Many employers, however, including state, federal, and many local governmental agencies, have a policy of compensating employees for at least part, if not all, of the time spent for jury service. As the employer, you must allow an employee time off to serve on a jury.

Can a person be fired for serving on a jury?

Recognizing this problem, most states prohibit employers from firing or disciplining employees called to serve on a jury. Some states go farther and prohibit employers from trying to discourage or intimidate employees from serving on a jury.