Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in Ohio
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in Ohio, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in Ohio
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| No wage mandate | Ohio law does not require an employer to pay wages during jury service. The time is unpaid unless the employer chooses to pay. |
| No discharge or discipline | Section 2313.19 bars an employer from discharging, threatening to discharge, or taking any disciplinary action that could lead to discharge of a permanent employee summoned as a juror, if the employee gives reasonable notice before service. |
| Cannot force use of your leave | An employer may not require or request that an employee use annual, vacation, or sick leave for time spent responding to a summons, in jury selection, or in actual jury service. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| Reasonable notice required | The job protection applies only if the employee gives the employer reasonable notice of the summons before jury service begins. |
| No new leave benefit created | The statute does not force an employer to provide vacation or sick leave to an employee who is not otherwise entitled to it under company policy. |
| 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 Ohio. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Give your employer reasonable notice
The protection in §2313.19 applies if you notify your employer of the summons before jury service starts. Provide the summons promptly.
- Do not expect wages during service
Ohio imposes no employer pay duty for jury time. Hourly time is unpaid unless your employer chooses to pay.
- Refuse if told to use vacation or sick leave
An employer cannot require or request that you use annual, vacation, or sick leave for jury service. Point to §2313.19 if that comes up.
- Document any threat over jury service
If your employer discharges, threatens, or disciplines you for serving, keep your summons and records. A violation can be punished as contempt of court.
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.
→ Ohio State Bar · Jury Duty and EmploymentThis 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 Ohio workers get wrong about jury duty
Ohio keeps the two jury-duty questions separate, and it goes a step further than many states on your paid leave. Your employer does not have to pay you during jury service, but under Revised Code §2313.19 it cannot discharge, threaten to discharge, or take any disciplinary action that could lead to discharge of a permanent employee who serves as a juror, as long as the employee gives reasonable notice of the summons before service begins. The provision that trips up employers is the leave rule: an employer may not require or even request that you use annual, vacation, or sick leave for time spent answering a summons, sitting through jury selection, or actually serving. The statute does not create a new leave benefit if your policy gives you none, and it does not turn the time into paid time. What it does is protect your job and your accrued leave, backed by real teeth: an employer who violates it can be punished for contempt of court under Chapter 2705. Give notice, keep your summons, and do not let anyone tell you to burn vacation for jury service.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Ohio?
No. Ohio does not require employers to pay wages during jury service. But under §2313.19 a permanent employee cannot be discharged, threatened, or disciplined for serving if reasonable notice was given.
Can I be fired for jury duty in Ohio?
No. Section 2313.19 bars an employer from discharging, threatening to discharge, or taking disciplinary action that could lead to discharge of a permanent employee for serving, provided the employee gave reasonable notice.
Can my Ohio employer make me use vacation for jury duty?
No. The statute prohibits an employer from requiring or requesting that you use annual, vacation, or sick leave for a summons, jury selection, or actual jury service.
What happens if my employer punishes me for serving in Ohio?
An employer who violates §2313.19 may be punished for contempt of court under Chapter 2705. Keep your summons and any records of the threat or discipline.
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.