Indiana - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Indiana, 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.

Employee must notify employer of the jury summons within a reasonable period.

No employer is obligated to compensate an employee for time taken off for jury duty.

An employee is entitled to paid annual leave, vacation leave, or sick leave; they may take it for the purpose of jury duty; but may not be requested to do so by the employer.

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

No employer shall knowingly or intentionally dismiss, threaten such a dismissal, or deprive of employment benefits an employee who has received or responded to a summons, served as a juror, or attended court for prospective jury service.

You should be sure to show your employer your Indiana 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.

An employer who interferences with jury service can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days’ imprisonment; Employer may also be fined up to $1,000.

Liable for lost wages and attorney's’ fees of the discharged employee. May be required to reinstate the fired employee.

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.