Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in Illinois
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in Illinois, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in Illinois
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| No wage mandate | The Jury Act expressly relieves employers of any obligation to compensate an employee for time taken off for jury duty. |
| Time off is guaranteed | Under 705 ILCS 305/4.1, an employee summoned for jury duty must be given the time off, regardless of shift. |
| No discharge or coercion | No employer may discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce an employee for serving on a jury. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| 10-day notice rule | The employee must give reasonable notice by delivering a copy of the summons to the employer within 10 days of its issuance. |
| Cannot force use of vacation or sick time | Some sources note the employer may not require the employee to use vacation or sick time for jury service. Confirm against the current statute. |
| 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 Illinois. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Deliver the summons within 10 days
Give your employer a copy of the jury summons within 10 days of its issuance. That notice supports the protections in §4.1.
- Do not expect wages during service
Illinois imposes no employer pay duty for jury time. The time is unpaid unless your employer chooses to pay.
- Push back if forced to use leave
Some guidance holds an employer cannot force you to use vacation or sick time for jury service. Confirm the current rule if that comes up.
- File a claim if you are punished for serving
If you are discharged, threatened, or coerced for jury service, you can pursue a claim, including with the Illinois Department of Labor.
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.
→ Illinois Department of Labor — FAQsThis 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 Illinois workers get wrong about jury duty
Illinois keeps the two jury-duty questions separate, like most states: your employer does not have to pay you, but it cannot fire you for serving, and it must give you the time off. Under the Jury Act, 705 ILCS 305/4.1, an employee summoned for jury duty must be allowed the time off regardless of shift, and no employer may discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce an employee for serving. The statute is also explicit that it does not obligate the employer to pay for the time, so the hours are unpaid unless the employer voluntarily pays. There is a notice condition that trips people up: the employee must deliver a copy of the summons to the employer within 10 days of its issuance to secure the protection. Some guidance also holds that an employer cannot force an employee to use vacation or sick time for jury service, though that point should be checked against the current statute. If an employer retaliates over jury service, the anti-discharge rule gives the employee a basis to challenge it.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Illinois?
No. The Jury Act expressly relieves employers of any obligation to pay for jury-duty time off. But your employer must give you the time off and cannot fire you for serving.
Can I be fired for jury duty in Illinois?
No. Under 705 ILCS 305/4.1, no employer may discharge, threaten, intimidate, or coerce an employee for serving on a jury, and time off is guaranteed.
How much notice do I give my employer for jury duty in Illinois?
You must deliver a copy of the summons to your employer within 10 days of its issuance. That notice secures the protections in §4.1.
Can my Illinois employer make me use vacation for jury duty?
Some guidance holds an employer cannot require you to use vacation or sick time for jury service. Confirm the current rule if your employer tries to require it.
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.