Pennsylvania - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Pennsylvania, 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.

In Pennsylvania, mandatory unpaid leave applies to retail or service industry employers with 15 or more employees, as well as to manufacturers with 40 or more employees.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Pennsylvania 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.

Under PA state law, an employee may not be threatened or coerced, or lose seniority or benefits, for attending jury duty.

You should be sure to show your employer your Pennsylvania 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.

If an employer penalizes or fires an employee for attending jury duty, they will be liable to the employee for lost benefits, wages, and attorney's’ fees. The employer may also be required to reinstate the fired 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.