Human Resource Blog

JSIA in Louisiana

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What is important to know about the JSIA in Louisiana?

The Jury Systems Improvement Act is a federal Act that is in place in order to ensure that when an employee is summoned for jury duty, the employee should be able to serve the jury duty without  being discriminated against in the workplace. According to the JSIA, the employer may not discriminate against any employee for serving on a jury. The employer also may not terminate or punish the employee for serving on a jury. The employer is prohibited from coercing or attempting to coerce and employee to forgo the jury service.

In Louisiana, employers do not have to pay wages for employees that wish to take time off of work to serve on a jury. However, the employer does have to ensure that when the employee has finished the jury service, the employee has the same job. Also, JSIA helps to protect the benefits of employees that need to take time off of work to serve on a jury. Employees must be able to have the same job, salary and benefits after the jury duty service has been completed.

Employers can request to see a copy of the jury summons for proof that the employee has been called to serve on a jury. Employers may also require that the employee provide evidence that he or she has actually served on a jury. Employees may obtain this evidence by getting a written statement from the clerk of the court on the day that the employee serves.

Employees may also be required to return to work on any day that he or she is not actively serving on a jury. For example, if an employee serves on a jury in the morning, the employer may require that the employee return to work in the afternoon after the jury duty service is over.

If an employer does terminate or punish an employee for serving on a jury, the employer could be fined up to $1,000 per instance, per employee. Also, the employer may have to pay back wages and lost benefits. CB