Jury Duty Leave Requirements By State

Managing employees who are called for jury duty can be tricky. There’s guidelines to follow at the federal level, as well as state-specific requirements for employers. We're all about simplifying the nitty gritty of managing employees - that includes a breakdown of jury duty leave laws per state. Let’s dive in.

Employer Requirements for Jury Duty Leave

At the federal level, requirements are fairly minimal with two key policies specific to employers and jury duty leave. The first is a big one — federal law dictates that employers have to allow their employees time off for jury duty. However, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that employers aren’t required to provide employees paid leave for serving jury duty. This includes any form of compensation as well as benefits.

Aside from these two policies, employers must look to the state for requirements around jury duty leave. Requirements can vary widely from state to state, so it’s important to do your research. We’ve compiled some high-level information about each state's requirements to help you get started.

Jury Duty Leave Policies by State

Alabama State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Alabama, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers must pay their full-time employees their typical salary while the employee serves jury duty. However, part-time employees are not required to be paid their normal salary by their employer.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Alaska State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Alaska, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty, unless there are two hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of the employee’s scheduled shift, or two hours between the end of the employee’s shift and the closing of the polls.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Arizona State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Arizona, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Arkansas State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Arkansas, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

California State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In California, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty. However, employees of governmental and other public entities should receive full pay and benefits from employers while serving jury duty.

Colorado State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Colorado, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow regularly employed employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their regular employees their normal wages while they serve jury duty, not to exceed $50 per day (unless otherwise dictated by the employer).

Connecticut State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Connecticut, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their full-time employees their regular wages for the first five days while they serve jury duty.

Delaware State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Delaware, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

District of Columbia Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Washington D.C., employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are only required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty if the employer has 11 or more employees.

Florida State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Florida, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty. Some localities, including Broward County and Miami-Dade County, have their own requirements, so check yours to ensure you’re compliant.

Georgia State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Georgia, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty. The only time this does not apply is when the employee is being charged with a crime.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Hawaii State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Hawaii, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Idaho State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Idaho, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Illinois State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Illinois, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Indiana State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Indiana, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Iowa State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Iowa, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty. Employers are also prohibited from requiring employees to perform work within 10 hours before the employee is required to report for jury duty. 

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Kansas State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Kansas, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Kentucky State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Kentucky, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Louisiana State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Louisiana, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Maine State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Maine, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Maryland State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Maryland, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Massachusetts State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Massachusetts, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their employees their regular wages for the first three days while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Michigan State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Michigan, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Minnesota State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Minnesota, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Mississippi State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Mississippi, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Missouri State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Missouri, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Montana State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Montana, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Private employers are not required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Nebraska State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Nebraska, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Nevada State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Nevada, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

New Hampshire State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In New Hampshire, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

New Jersey State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In New Jersey, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

New Mexico State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In New Mexico, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

New York State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In New York, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees their regular salary while they serve jury duty. However, employers with more than 10 employees are required to compensate employees for the first three days while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

North Carolina State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In North Carolina, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

North Dakota State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In North Dakota, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Ohio State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Ohio, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Oklahoma State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Oklahoma, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Oregon State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Oregon, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Pennsylvania State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Pennsylvania, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty. Exceptions apply to retail or service industry employers with fewer than 15 employees, as well as manufacturing industry employers with fewer than 40 employees.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Rhode Island State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Rhode Island, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

South Carolina State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In South Carolina, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are sometimes required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

South Dakota State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In South Dakota, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Tennessee State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Tennessee, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers with five or more employees are required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Texas State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In the state of Texas, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Utah State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Utah, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

Vermont State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Vermont, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Virginia State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Virginia, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Washington State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Washington, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

West Virginia State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In West Virginia, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Wisconsin State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Wisconsin, employers have the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

Wyoming State Jury Duty Leave Guidelines

In Wyoming, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Employers are required to allow employees time off for jury duty.

• Employers cannot punish employees in any way for taking time off to serve jury duty.

• Employers are not required to pay their employees while they serve jury duty.

• Employers cannot require employees to use their personal leave to serve jury duty.

What we’ve shared above provides a high-level intro to the jury duty policies for each state, but there’s more to learn to ensure you’re complying with state (and federal) requirements. By doing your due diligence, you can steer your company clear of compliance risks and better understand how you can support your team in their civic duties.

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