Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in California
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in California, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in California
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| No wage mandate | Private employers need not pay wages for time off to serve on a jury. Hourly time is unpaid unless the employer chooses to pay. |
| You cannot be fired for serving | Labor Code §230(a) states an employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve on a jury, if the employee gives reasonable notice before taking the time off. |
| You may use paid sick leave (2025) | Effective October 1, 2025, employees may apply accrued paid sick leave to jury service. Using vacation or PTO is also common. This does not create an employer pay mandate, but it can make the time off paid. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| Public employees | Many California public-sector employees receive paid jury leave by policy or memorandum of understanding. |
| Employer policy or union contract | An employer or collective-bargaining agreement may voluntarily provide paid jury leave. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are summoned for jury duty in California. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Give your employer reasonable notice
The job protection under §230(a) applies if you notify your employer of the jury summons before taking the time off. Provide the summons promptly.
- Ask about applying paid leave
Since October 2025 you can apply accrued paid sick leave to jury service, and many employers let you use vacation or PTO. Ask so the time off is not unpaid.
- Keep your summons and any correspondence
If your employer threatens your job over jury service, documentation of your notice and the summons supports a retaliation claim.
- File a claim if you are punished for serving
If you are discharged or disciplined for jury service, you can file with the California Labor Commissioner or consult an employment attorney.
If you are punished for serving, or owed jury pay, a state labor agency can take your claim. This resource points to the right office.
→ California Labor Commissioner — File a ClaimThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Employer size, notice rules, and remedies can change the answer, so confirm your situation against the statute or with a licensed attorney.
What California workers get wrong about jury duty
California draws the line most people miss on jury duty: your employer does not have to pay you, but it cannot fire you for serving. Labor Code §230(a) bars an employer from discharging or discriminating against an employee for taking time off to serve on a jury, as long as the employee gives reasonable notice beforehand. That is job protection, not a pay mandate, and the two are independent. What changed the practical answer is a 2025 amendment: effective October 1, 2025, employees may apply accrued paid sick leave to jury service, and using vacation or PTO has long been common, so the time off need not be unpaid even though no statute forces the employer to pay wages. Public employees often get paid jury leave by policy, and an employer or union contract can provide it voluntarily. The key takeaway is procedural: give your employer notice of the summons to keep the §230(a) protection, then ask about applying paid leave so you are not simply going without pay.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in California?
No. California does not require private employers to pay wages during jury service. But under Labor Code §230(a), your employer cannot fire or discriminate against you for serving if you gave reasonable notice.
Can I be fired for jury duty in California?
No. Section 230(a) bars discharge or discrimination for taking time off to serve on a jury, provided you gave your employer reasonable notice before the time off.
Can I use paid time off for jury duty in California?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025 you may apply accrued paid sick leave to jury service, and many employers allow vacation or PTO. That can make the time off paid even without an employer pay mandate.
What if my employer punishes me for serving in California?
You can file a claim with the California Labor Commissioner or consult an employment attorney. Keep your summons and proof of the notice you gave to support a retaliation claim.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.