More Protections for Maryland Employees Taking Jury Duty Leave

Author: Melissa Burdorf, XpertHR Legal Editor

Maryland employers should be aware that as of October 1, 2012, employees that serve four or more hours of jury duty in a day (including travel time) cannot be required to return to work when their jury service ends if their employment shift begins:

On or after 5 p.m. on the day of the employee's jury service; or
Before 3 a.m. on the day following the employee's jury service.

However, employees cannot be prevented from voluntarily returning to work or picking up a shift on a day they serve jury duty if the employee wishes to do so. Employers need to tread lightly here because the language of the law prohibits coercing or forcing an employee to work.

If an employer violates this law the employer can be fined up to $1,000.

Maryland employers should review their handbooks and jury leave policies to ensure that they are compliant with this law. Employers should also train their supervisors and managers of these new employee protections.