Most employers believe that an employee has a civic responsibility to serve when called as a juror or witness, and many states prohibit discrimination against employees who serve as a juror or witness.

Although most employers pay employees on leave for jury service, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to pay nonexempt salaried employees or hourly employees while on leave for jury service. However, employers must pay full salaries to exempt employees who are absent from work for less than 1 week to perform jury service.