Connecticut - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

in Connecticut, your employer is not only required to give you leave for jury duty, but they are required to pay you your normal wages for all working hours spent at jury selection or jury duty. This is a rare guarantee, as most states only require that employees be provided with unpaid leave for serving on a jury.

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.

Employer obligated to pay regular wages for the first 5 days of jury service to employees considered full-time (30 hours of scheduled hours for a minimum of 90 days prior to jury summons)

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Connecticut 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.

An employer shall not deprive an employee of his or her employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce an employee for receiving and responding to a summons, or serving as a juror.

Employees having served 8 hours of jury are not required to work in excess.

You should be sure to show your employer your Connecticut 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.

The employer may be found in criminal contempt, and, upon conviction thereof, may be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

Dismissed employees may file civil action against employer within ninety days of dismissal, for recovery of wages, reinstatement order, and damages. Damages may not exceed 10 weeks' wages. Successful employee can be granted fixed court fees.

Such remedy also available if employer has not paid jury leave wages.

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.