It’s hard for a jury to look kindly upon employers that frown on workers who take time off to perform their civic duty.
Unfortunately, for the people running this company, that didn’t occur to them.
What happened
Miami-based Hall Investigation Service denied one of its female security guards almost $400 in back wages after she missed three days of work to serve on a jury.
She was later fired for refusing to skip court and return to work, which is what her boss directed her to do.
The security guard sued her employer under county law, which states employers cannot fire workers who serve on juries and must pay them for at least the first three days they take off to serve.
Result: A jury awarded the security guard $30,000 in lost wages and emotional distress, plus another $120,000 in punitive damages.
Do you think the award was fair? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
