Your help is essential! For our jury system to work, it is essential that the courts and employers form a
partnership to ensure that all citizens are available to serve on juries when called.
Without cooperation from the business community, our system would come to a halt. This is
an outcome a democratic society cannot afford. We would lose a fundamental principle upon
which we, private and corporate citizens alike, depend. The importance of your
participation cannot be emphasized enough. Cooperation from employers strengthens the jury
system.
The jury system works for business, too.
Businesses frequently benefit directly from our legal system. The civil litigation
system in particular is filled with a variety of business-related disputes. These include
actions concerning contracts, wrongful termination, product defects, environmental issues,
malpractice, and intellectual fraud. While employers have valid concerns about how jury
service affects their employees and resources, it is important that they understand the
length of time employees may need to be absent.
Employers can do their fair share.
Employers and businesses are encouraged to support the jury system by paying employees
while they are serving as jurors. In order for society to benefit from fair and open
trials, we need to make it easier for citizens to report for jury service. Many citizens
cannot afford to serve if they will lose their salaries or wages during jury service. In
recent years, far too many jurors have asked to be excused from service because the loss
of income they would suffer creates a financial hardship. On the other hand, when the
number of jurors claiming financial hardship decreases, a much broader cross-section of
society will be free to serve. This will create juries that are truly representative and
reflective of our society. By agreeing to compensate employees during jury service, not
only will employers continue to enjoy the benefits of the jury system, but they will also
contribute toward its improvement.
Payment is voluntary, not mandatory.
State law does not currently require employers to continue paying the salary of
employees who are absent because of jury service. Many employers, however, including
state, federal, and many local governmental agencies, have a policy of compensating
employees for at least part, if not all, of the time spent for jury service. If employers
do pay, they have the right to require employees to remit to them the fees received for
jury service.
Employees are protected from harassment or dismissal.
As the employer, you must allow an employee time off to serve on a jury. Michigan
Statutes outlaw any employer from firing or harassing an employee who is summoned to court
to serve as a juror. Employees who are harassed or fired should notify the Court.
Employers can be held in contempt of Court if found guilty of violating the law.
Time period for juror service
Jurors serve for periods of one week or until the trial is completed, whichever occurs
first.
