Kentucky - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Kentucky, 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.

Employers are not required to compensate individuals for leave during jury service.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Kentucky 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 deprive, threaten, coerce an employee for complying with jury service because they received a summons, responded, served as a juror, or attended court.

You should be sure to show your employer your Kentucky 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.

Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 89 days’ imprisonment or fine of up to $250, or both.

Discharged employee, within 90 days, may bring civil action for recovery of wages lost, and an order requiring the reinstatement with full seniority and benefits. Damages shall not exceed lost wages.Successful employee allowed costs fixed by 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.