My employer is making me take vacation time for jury duty?

employers can do that, especially if the employer is small

It may depend from state to state.

1) check your companies "Company Handbook" if they have one. There should be something in there about Jury Duty. Most places give you 3 days paid....then it's either personal time/vacation or no pay.

2) Call you States Department of Labor and ask them

3) Talk to the Clerk of the Courts office that sent you the summons. YOu can probably get out of it if you tell them that you will miss pay if you are chosen and it would cause undo hardship on you and your family.

You need to alert the court. This is illegal and completely the sort of thing that send judges ballistic. The Judge will straighten out your employer in a heart beat. If they retaliate then you can wind up owning th company and then you can fire your supervisors for committing a felony. Jury Tampering!

Get your employer to get you excused from jury duty. All your employer has to do is supply documentation that your removal for jury duty would be devastating to the company. If your employer won't do it, wear a wedding dress to the trial. That will get you off jury duty quick.

that makes sense to me.. i dunno, look up the laws and rights regarding jury duty, i'm sure someone at the courthouse can answer your question.

but honestly i wouldn't expect to get paid for going to jury duty, i'd only expect not to receive any negative repercussions.

if you don't work, you don't get paid, makes sense to me... the only alternative i can see for your case is you negotiate so that you just don't get paid OR lose vacation time while you're on jury duty.

First, I know in this economy it's hard, but try to find a new job.

Secondly, your employer IS BREAKING THE LAW.

Check it out, find a law site.

Good luck.

Yes. That is legal in many states. Most of the above answers are wrong in that this varies by state. The only thing they are not allowed to do is fire you for serving. They most certainly do not have to pay you and the court can still make you serve regardless of whether you get paid or not. If you are supporting a minor then they might consider it a hardship. Depends on judge. But most people are not paid for jury service (eg housewives, retired, teachers off for summer, retail workers on day off, and those who work for small companies, just to name a few ). That in itself is not unusual

if you're a contractor then they can do pretty much whatever they want. If you're a full time employee, you should contact your HR and ask them. I doubt they can do that in that case.

I'm not sure have you talked to the human resources department where you work?

They only have to allow you time off.