As a resident of the beautiful state of Washington, jury duty is your civic duty. Don’t worry, you are not being picked on—every state places similar obligations on their residents. You may have received many jury duty summons in your adult life and never been chosen to sit on a trial. That doesn’t matter here. What does matter is that when you receive a jury duty summons in the mail, you follow the instructions. Because to act otherwise is against the law.
One thing that cannot get in the way of your Washington jury duty obligations is your job. Not only does the state law require your employer to provide you with “sufficient leave of absence” when you are summoned to jury duty; the employer also cannot deny you promotional opportunities for serving on a jury.
Here’s a look at some of the more commonly asked questions when it comes to serving on jury duty in Washington on jury duty in Washington:
· What happens if I don’t respond to my summons? Do you want a misdemeanor on your record? Didn’t think so, but that is what you will get if you fail to respond to your jury summons.
· Do I get paid for serving on a jury? Yes and no. To begin, your employer does not have to pay you while serving on jury duty. Some employees choose to take vacation or personal days as a way to continue getting “paid” from work. You do, however get paid for each day’s attendance by the county you serve in. Daily compensation ranges from $10 to $25 in addition to mileage reimbursement.
· Do employers have to let employees serve? Yes. Criminal penalties will be attached to any employer who says otherwise. Serving on a jury is a civic duty that pretty much applies to everyone absent an acceptable excuse; eligible individuals have to be able to serve without fear of losing his or her job or otherwise being penalized at work.
Workplace discrimination,FMLA issues,sexual harassment harassment—there are a lot of things that can happen in a Washington workplace that can have you concerned. Serving on a jury should not be one of them. If you have experienced negative repercussions at work after fulfilling your civic duty, you should get in touch with a Washington employment lawyer to discuss your issues. If you are an employer wondering how to handle jury duty issues and time away from work, an employment lawyer can also help you structure an arrangement that works best for your company while still staying within the law.
In order to avoid any problems with your company before they start, always let your boss know as soon as possible the dates you have been selected for jury duty. Not only does it put your employer on notice but also gives you a chance to work together to find another, better date to serve if possible.
