Jury Duty

Wilkes University encourages employees to fulfill their civic responsibilities by serving jury duty when required. Employees may request up to two weeks of paid jury duty leave over any one year period.

Jury duty pay will be calculated on the employee's base pay rate times the number of hours the employee would otherwise have worked on the day of absence. All full-time employees qualify for paid jury duty leave.

If employees are required to serve jury duty beyond the period of paid jury duty leave, they may use any available paid time off (for example, vacation benefits) or may request an unpaid jury duty leave of absence.

Employees must present the jury duty summons to their supervisor as soon as possible so that the supervisor may make arrangements to accommodate their absence. Of course, employees are expected to report for work whenever the court schedule permits.

Either Wilkes University or the employee may request an excuse from jury duty if, in Wilkes University's judgment, the employee's absence would create serious operational difficulties.

Wilkes University will continue to provide health insurance benefits for a maximum period of thirty calendar days after the unpaid jury duty leave begins. At that time, employees will become responsible for their portion of the costs of these benefits if they wish coverage to continue (the flexible benefits budget will continue to apply).

Benefit accruals such as vacation, sick leave, or holiday benefits will be suspended during unpaid jury duty leave and will resume upon the employee's return to active employment.

Policy No.  311  Effective Date:  6/1/2004