Jury duty in NYC. Does company pay for days off?

Question

I was summoned to jury duty in nyc.. i work as a consultant in new jersey... but live in nyc.

I currently told my consultant manager and he awared me that my vacation days will be used during my time at jury duty?

is this allowed? I thought jury duty was automatic excused days off (without the use of personal, vacation, sick days)?

Answer 1

Each company has it's own policies on jury duty, the decent ones pay full wages, the crappy ones nothing, the city of NY will give you $5 a day plus meal, you are IN the money!!!! Yeah right!

Answer 2

Some states require employers to pay FULL-TIME workers their normal wages, although the majority do not.  I'm not sure in NY is one of these states.  I do not think NY law would apply to your job in NJ though, nor would NJ law apply.

Your job may only count your jury duty as vacation time if you opt to take paid vacation instead of unpaid days off.  Otherwise it is simply an excused absense and your employer can get in big trouble for not following this law.

You are compensated for your service, which varies by state.  If you do not serve on an actual jury, then usually you get a petty amount for that day.  If you do serve on a jury, then some states pay your for travel to the courthouse.

Answer 3

I know some companies will not pay you for jury duty but I thought it would be considered time off without pay--not vacation time.  I guess if you want to be paid you will have to call it vacation time.

Answer 4

You are paid by the city for jury duty to help offset any loss of income.  Your employer does not have to either pay you or grant you excused leave.  They are required to let you go for whetever time it takes to serve and to take you back when your service is done.  Your employer is actually helping you by giving you vacation days if those are paid vacation days.

Answer 5

I would think they are excused days off, but unpaid by the employer some employers do pay you it is up to them.. If you want to be paid while attending jury duty sound like a good thing to use vacation pay.  But i do not agree they use your other unpaid days off against you for your duty and I think the judge would not like this.  Bet you could get a letter sent by the court to your employer if they are not cooperating.

The amount paid by the court does not attempt to pay for your wage loss. It is a minimal amount and maybe pays for gas and parking.  At the present gas rate might not even pay for that. The amounts paid to serve has not kept up with the expenses one incurs, however it is looked upon as one of those things you volunteer your time for as an American doing your duty to our country.