Home » Guides » Human Resources » Human Resources » Jury Duty and Employee Policy Education and Training

Jury Duty and Employee Policy Education and Training

Make sure your jury duty policy is compliant with state and federal law

By Lea Terry, Freelance Journalist / Copywriter
Even if none of your employees ever receive a jury duty summons, it's essential that you have a jury duty policy already in place. According to jury duty law, employees must be allowed time off to attend jury duty, and because missing jury duty is a crime in many jurisdictions, your employees could face fines or jail time for avoiding jury duty.

It's important that all of your employees are fully trained on your company's jury duty policy. Jury duty and employee policy education and training could include:
  1. Researching jury duty laws and presenting them to your employees.
  2. Finding sample jury duty policies to use as training tools.
  3. Taking a course to help you craft your employee policy on jury duty.

 

Educate staff on the laws regarding jury duty and employee policy

An investigation into state and federal jury duty rules is often the best place to start when training employees about your workplace policy on jury duty. Jury duty regulations set by the government will dictate much of your policy, so understanding them is key. Many government agencies and business and legal websites offer free jury duty policy information that you can use as a training tool for your staff.
Try: At the U.S. Department of Labor website, find out your obligation as an employer when it comes to providing jury duty leave. At LegalZoom, find out what consequences your employees will face if they miss jury duty, and at FindLaw, get a general overview of jury duty policy.

Use a sample jury duty policy as a training guide

To ensure thoroughness and compliance with federal law, compile several sample jury duty leave policies to use as models. Many companies offer samples they've put together that can be downloaded either for free or for a small fee.
Try: Find jury duty sample policies to use as training materials at The HR Specialist and the Business Owner's Toolkit.

Find an employee policy training program that covers jury duty policies

For the most intensive and thorough training, consider a seminar or workshop, either online or in-person. Many professional associations and other groups offer basic courses in human resource and employment topics, including subjects like employee leave.
Try: The American Management Association offers seminars in basic HR topics like providing time off. National Seminars Training offers courses covering basic human resource law issues.

 

  • As part of your jury duty and employee policy education and training, educate management on how to properly teach new employees about the policy. To ensure that all employees understand your company's jury duty policy, you may want to include the subject in your new employee orientation program, for example. Taking them step-by-step through the policy, rather than just providing them with material to read, provides opportunities for employees to ask for clarification, and for company leadership to seek feedback on the policy.
  • Gear your jury duty and employee policy education and training toward both the company and the employee. In addition to informing employees of your jury duty policy, help them understand what their obligations are when it comes to jury duty, and what they need to do if called.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.