Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in Georgia
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in Georgia, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in Georgia
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| No wage mandate | Georgia law does not require an employer to pay wages during jury service. The time is unpaid unless the employer chooses to pay. |
| No discharge, discipline, or penalty | Section 34-1-3 makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize an employee for being absent to attend a judicial proceeding in response to a jury summons or other court order. |
| No threats either | It is also unlawful for an employer to threaten to take, or communicate an intention of taking, any action barred by the statute. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| Reasonable notice of absence | The statute does not stop an employer from requiring an employee to follow reasonable rules on notifying the employer of an expected absence or delay in reporting to work. |
| Employee charged with a crime | The protection does not apply to an employee who is charged with a crime. |
| Employer policy | Some employers voluntarily pay for jury time, but it is not required. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are summoned for jury duty in Georgia. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Follow your employer notice rules
The protection holds while you meet reasonable rules on notifying your employer of the absence. Give the summons promptly and follow the call-in policy.
- Do not expect wages during service
Georgia imposes no employer pay duty for jury time. Hourly time is unpaid unless your employer chooses to pay.
- Keep your summons and records
If your employer discharges, disciplines, or penalizes you for serving, documentation supports a claim under §34-1-3.
- Pursue actual damages and fees if penalized
A violation makes the employer liable for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. Consider consulting 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.
→ State Bar of Georgia · Public ResourcesThis 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 Georgia workers get wrong about jury duty
Georgia protects your job for jury service but does not open your employer's wallet. Under O.C.G.A. §34-1-3, an employer may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize an employee for being absent to attend a judicial proceeding in response to a jury summons or other court order, and may not even threaten to do so. What the statute does not do is require the employer to pay you: jury time is unpaid unless the employer chooses to pay or a contract says otherwise. The protection carries an ordinary condition on the employee side. The law does not stop an employer from enforcing reasonable rules about notifying it of an expected absence or a delay in reporting to work, so follow your workplace call-in procedure and turn in the summons promptly. The statute also does not apply if the employee is the one charged with a crime. If an employer breaks the rule, the remedy has real weight: it is liable for all actual damages the employee suffers and for reasonable attorney fees on a successful claim, which is a private lawsuit rather than an agency complaint.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Georgia?
No. Georgia does not require employers to pay wages during jury service. But under §34-1-3 your employer cannot discharge, discipline, or penalize you for being absent to serve.
Can I be fired for jury duty in Georgia?
No. Section 34-1-3 makes it unlawful to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize an employee, or to threaten such action, for attending a judicial proceeding in response to a jury summons.
What can I recover if my Georgia employer punishes me for serving?
The employer is liable for all actual damages you suffer and for reasonable attorney fees incurred in a successful claim under §34-1-3. It is a private lawsuit, not an agency complaint.
Does my Georgia employer still get notice of my absence?
Yes. The statute does not prevent an employer from requiring reasonable notification of an expected absence or a delay in reporting to work, so follow the call-in policy and hand in the summons.
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.