Leave for Jury Duty and Serving as a Witness

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Policy Number:
UW-5058
Old Policy Number:
16.1
Responsible Office:
Office of Human Resources

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy establishes leave benefits  for employees  summoned to serve as a juror as well as serving as a witness for work related legal matters. 

Definitions:

For the purposes of this the following terms are defined.

Jury Duty
Time responding to a jury summons or serving on a jury.
Witness
An employee called to serve as a witness in a legal proceeding against the university in which they are attending on behalf of the university. 
Scope:

Faculty, Academic Staff, Limited appointees, and University Staff. 

Policy:
  1. Jury Duty
    1. Reporting to Work
      1. When an employee is not actually impaneled for service, but are on call, they must report to work.
      2. If the employee’s work schedule is outside of standard office hours, i.e., the employee works second or third shift, the employee is entitled to be temporarily transferred to first shift for the period they are impaneled for jury duty.
    2. Leave Usage
      1. Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited appointees impaneled as a jurist do not have to report leave time for the time they are in court. The employee will remain in pay status for the duration of their service.
      2. University Staff in permanent and project positions called to jury duty during regularly scheduled work periods do not have to report leave time for the time they are in court. The employee will remain in pay status for the duration of their service.
    3. Pay While Serving as a Jurist
      1. Faculty, Academic Staff, Limited appointees, and University Staff covered by this policy are entitled to receive their regular salary in addition to juror pay.
  2. Serving as a Witness
    1. Leave Usage
      1. Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited appointees serving as a witness for a work-related matter do not have to report leave time for the time they are in court. The employee will remain in pay status for the duration of their service.
      2. University Staff in permanent and project positions called to serve as a witness for a work-related matter during regularly scheduled work periods do not have to report leave time for the time they are in court. The employee will remain in pay status for the duration of their service.
    2. Reporting to Work
      1. When an employee is not serving as a witness for a work-related matter, but are on call, they must report to work.
      2. If the employee’s work schedule is outside of standard office hours, i.e., the employee works second or third shift, the employee is entitled to be temporarily transferred to first shift for the period they are serving as a witness in a work-related matter.
    3. Pay While Serving as a Witness
      1. Faculty, Academic Staff, Limited appointees, and University Staff covered by this policy are entitled to receive their regular salary without use of leave while serving as a witness.
  3. Employees should follow the procedures for notification as established by their School, College, or Division.
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Policy Manager:
Interim-Chief Human Resources Officer
Contact:
Director, Workforce Relations -- Megan Dzyuba, megan.dzyuba@wisc.edu, (608) 265-2257
Date Issued:
06-26-2015
Revised Dates:

04-05-2019

Retrieved:
02-05-2023 17:21:21