Arizona - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Arizona, employers are required to provide you with unpaid time off for reporting to jury selection or jury duty. You may have to show your employer your jury summons in order to be given the necessary leave.

Your employer can never punish you for missing work to attend jury duty. However, if missing work would cause your employer undue hardship, it may be considered as an acceptable jury duty excuse.

In Arizona, employers are not required to provide paid leave to employees who are not entitled to such benefits under company policies. Many employers support the jury system and continue wage payments. An employer cannot require or request the employee to use annual, vacation, or sick leave for time spent responding to a summons for jury duty, participating in the jury selection process, or actually serving on a jury. Employers often require proof of summons or attendance, which may be obtained from the bailiff or jury commissioner.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Arizona for each day you serve on a jury, as well as potential reimbursements for travel expenses. However, jury duty pay tends to be a token amount rather than actual compensation.

In the state of Arizona, no employee may be dismissed or in any way penalized, such as losing seniority, as a result of their duties as a juror.

You should be sure to show your employer your Arizona jury duty summons letter when you receive it, and update them with your jury duty dates if you are assigned to a trial, to ensure that you receive your mandatory time off.

Should an employer penalize or dismiss an employee as a result of their duties as a juror, the employer is subject to Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500.

If you have been punished for missing work due to jury duty, contact the joror office of the court that summoned you, and they will assist in ensuring that your rights are protected.