Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in Florida
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in Florida, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in Florida
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| No wage mandate | Florida does not require employers to pay wages during jury service. |
| No dismissal for serving | Section 40.271 states no person summoned or accepted to serve on a grand or petit jury may be dismissed from employment for any cause because of the nature or length of jury service. |
| Threats can be contempt | Threats of dismissal by an employer to a person summoned for jury service may be deemed a contempt of the court that issued the summons. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| Civil remedy for the employee | An employee dismissed or pressured over jury service may bring a civil action to recover compensatory damages, plus punitive damages and reasonable attorney fees. |
| Employer policy | Voluntary paid jury leave is permitted but not required. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are summoned for jury duty in Florida. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Do not expect wages during jury service
Florida imposes no employer pay duty for jury time. The time is unpaid unless your employer chooses to pay.
- Serve without fear of dismissal
Under §40.271, you cannot be dismissed for the nature or length of your jury service. Threats to your job can be treated as contempt of court.
- Keep records if you are pressured
If an employer threatens or dismisses you over jury service, save the summons and any communications for a civil claim.
- Consider a civil action for a violation
A violation lets you sue for compensatory and punitive damages and attorney fees. A licensed Florida attorney can assess the claim.
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.
→ The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral ServiceThis 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 Florida workers get wrong about jury duty
Florida separates the two jury-duty questions clearly: your employer does not have to pay you, but it cannot dismiss you for serving. Section 40.271 states that no person summoned or accepted to serve on a grand or petit jury may be dismissed from employment for any cause because of the nature or length of that service. It goes further than many states on enforcement: a threat of dismissal by an employer to a summoned juror may be deemed a contempt of the court that issued the summons, and an employee who is pressured or dismissed can bring a civil action for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees. What Florida does not do is require the employer to pay wages during jury leave, so the time is unpaid unless the employer voluntarily pays. The practical point is that the job protection is strong and independent of pay: you may serve without losing your job, and if an employer retaliates, both the court’s contempt power and a civil lawsuit are available.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Florida?
No. Florida does not require employers to pay wages during jury service. But under §40.271, you cannot be dismissed for serving.
Can I be fired for jury duty in Florida?
No. Section 40.271 bars dismissal for the nature or length of jury service, and a threat of dismissal by an employer can be treated as contempt of the court that issued the summons.
What can I do if my Florida employer punishes me for serving?
You can bring a civil action to recover compensatory damages, plus punitive damages and reasonable attorney fees, and the employer may also face contempt of court.
Is jury-duty time paid in Florida?
Not by law. The employer has no duty to pay wages during jury service, so the time is unpaid unless the employer voluntarily pays.
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.