North Carolina - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In North Carolina, 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 pay employees while on leave for jury duty.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of North Carolina 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 may discharge or demote any employee because they perform jury duty obligations.

You should be sure to show your employer your North Carolina 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.

A discharged employee may, within a year, bring up a civil action for recovery of reasonable damages and a reinstatement order to their former position.

The burden of proof shall be upon the 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.