Jury Duty

Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

If you are summoned to jury duty, we encourage you to fulfill your civic, court-related obligations within university policy.

An employee summoned to required Jury Duty must provide a copy of the summons to his/her supervisor upon request.

For non-represented staff, covered by Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) the following applies:

  • Employees are required to report back to work as soon as possible after they are released from jury duty, unless there are less than two (2) hours remaining in their scheduled workday, in which case they should report to work on their next scheduled workday. Not returning in a timely manner may be considered an unexcused absence.
  • Employees may be required to provide documentation from the court showing time served.
  • An employee who serves on a jury on a holiday observed by the University due to required jury duty is eligible for holiday pay but does not receive an alternate day off.

Exempt Employees: will continue to receive their University salary during required jury duty. However, exempt employees are expected to do what they reasonably can to maintain continuity of operations while on jury duty (e.g., keep in contact with supervisors, work on nights and weekends as needed).

Non-Exempt Career Employees: will receive pay for actual time spent on required jury duty and related travel, not to exceed the pay for the employee’s normal workday and the normal workweek. On occasion, an employee may be asked to work after serving on jury duty that day, if available. Those who do so will receive pay for hours worked, including overtime when required by law. Supervisors should attempt to redistribute workload so that the employee is not asked to work additional hours, except in emergencies. 

For information regarding leave for jury duty and grand jury duty check PPSM 2.210 - Absence From Work Policy

For represented staff, covered by a union contract:

  • Employees should review the leave policy in their applicable contract for details regarding jury duty.
  • For more information employees should contact their union representatives or contact Employee & Labor Relations at 530-754-8892.