Ohio - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Ohio, 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 state law compels an employer to pay wages to an employee taking leave for jury service.

An employer is not by law required provide an employee with annual, vacation or sick leave for the purpose of jury duty leave unless employee is entitled to such benefits under company policies.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Ohio 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 or threaten or otherwise coerce an employee with respect to their employment because the employee is fulfilling jury service obligations.

An employer cannot require or request an employee to use annual, vacation or sick leave for time spent fulfilling jury duties.

You should be sure to show your employer your Ohio 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 may be found guilty of contempt of court which may be punishable by a fine of up to $250 or imprisonment of 30 days, 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.