Montana - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Montana, employers are required to provide you with unpaid time off for reporting to jury selection or jury duty. You may have to show your employer your jury summons in order to be given the necessary leave.

Your employer can never punish you for missing work to attend jury duty. However, if missing work would cause your employer undue hardship, it may be considered as an acceptable jury duty excuse.

There is no state law requiring a private employer to pay for jury leave.

There are provisions that an employee may use accrued annual leave for pay entitlements, in conjunction with state payments for attendance and mileage allowance. The employee does not have to remit any fees collected

Employers may request the court to excuse their employees from jury duty if they are needed for the proper operation of a unit of state or local government.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Montana for each day you serve on a jury, as well as potential reimbursements for travel expenses. However, jury duty pay tends to be a token amount rather than actual compensation.

There is no Montana state legislature protecting employees from dismissal or adverse action as a result of complying with jury duty.

You should be sure to show your employer your Montana jury duty summons letter when you receive it, and update them with your jury duty dates if you are assigned to a trial, to ensure that you receive your mandatory time off.

Jury Systems Improvement Act states that employers can be sued for terminating or discriminating against employees because of their federal jury service.

If you have been punished for missing work due to jury duty, contact the joror office of the court that summoned you, and they will assist in ensuring that your rights are protected.