Michigan - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Michigan, 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 Michigan law requires employers to pay employees for absences due to jury duty.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Michigan 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 or the employer's agent may not threaten to discharge or discipline an employee for being summoned for jury duty or serving on a jury.

Employer may not request the juror to work any additional hours that would, combined with the hours served during jury duty, be in excess of the normal amount worked.

You should be sure to show your employer your Michigan 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 guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to 90 days’ imprisonment, or both.

May also be in contempt of court punishable with a fine of up to $7,500 or up to 93 days’ imprisonment, or both.

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.