(a) General rule.--An employer shall not deprive an employee of his employment, seniority position or benefits, or threaten or otherwise coerce him with respect thereto, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror or attends court for prospective jury service. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the employer to compensate the employee for employment time lost because of such jury service.
(b) Penalty.--Any employer who violates subsection (a) commits a summary offense.
(c) Civil remedy available.--If an employer penalizes an employee in violation of subsection (a) the employee may bring a civil action for recovery of wages and benefits lost as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee. Damages recoverable shall not exceed wages and benefits actually lost. If he prevails, the employee shall be allowed a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court.
(d) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to any employer in any retail or service industry employing fewer than 15 persons or any employer in any manufacturing industry employing fewer than 40 persons.
(e) Right to excuse.--Any individual not entitled to reemployment under subsection (a) shall, upon request to the court, be excused from jury service.
(Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 4563 is referred to in section 5522 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 45 - Juries and Jurors
Section 4501 - Declaration of policy
Section 4502 - Qualifications of jurors
Section 4503 - Exemptions from jury duty
Section 4521 - Selection of prospective jurors
Section 4521.1 - Statewide jury information system
Section 4522 - List of qualified jurors
Section 4523 - List of disqualified jurors
Section 4524 - Selection of jurors for service
Section 4525 - Equipment used for selection of jurors
Section 4526 - Challenging compliance with selection procedures
Section 4527 - Effect of verdict on jury selection errors
Section 4531 - Issuance of court orders for jurors
Section 4532 - Summoning persons to serve as jurors
Section 4541 - Short title of subchapter
Section 4543 - Convening county investigating grand jury
Section 4544 - Convening multicounty investigating grand jury
Section 4545 - Composition of investigating grand jury
Section 4546 - Term of investigating grand jury
Section 4547 - Additional investigating grand juries
Section 4548 - Powers of investigating grand jury
Section 4549 - Investigating grand jury proceedings
Section 4551 - Investigating grand jury presentments
Section 4552 - Investigating grand jury reports
Section 4553 - Expenses of investigating grand juries and trials resulting therefrom
Section 4561 - Compensation of and travel allowance for jurors
Section 4562 - Juror's right to refuse inquiries
Section 4563 - Protection of employment of petit and grand jurors
Section 4563.1 - Protection of employment of grand jurors (Deleted by amendment)
Section 4564 - Alternate jurors
Section 4565 - Challenging certain petit jurors where political subdivision is a party
Section 4581 - Interfering with selection of jurors
Section 4582 - Tampering with names of jurors
Section 4583 - Tampering with jurors