Iowa - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Iowa, 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.

No employer is obligated to compensate an employee who partakes in jury duty.

Many employers do compensate in recognition of the importance of jury service.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Iowa 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 may not threaten, coerce, or terminate an employee due to serving or being called to serve as a juror

You should be sure to show your employer your Iowa 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.

May be found in contempt of court. Employee may sue.

Dismissed employee can bring a civil action for the recovery of wages lost and reinstatement, within 60 days. Damages recoverable shall not exceed lost wages for a period of six weeks.Successful employee allowed costs as deemed by the court.

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.