Civic Duty Leave

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ("University") provides leave with pay for voting on an official election day and to serve on a jury when summoned. Additionally, the University provides time off with pay to serve as a witness in a court or administrative proceeding to which the employee is not a party (i.e., plaintiff or defendant).

II. PROCEDURE

A. Voting

Employees should be able to vote either before or after regular working hours. If this is not possible, supervisors are authorized to grant a reasonable period of time off during the regular work day for voting. Time off for voting should be reported as time worked and no reduction in vacation allowance or salary will be made.

B. Jury Duty, Court Appearance, Administrative Proceeding

When summoned to serve on a jury or subpoenaed to serve as a witness in a court or administrative proceeding to which the employee is not a party, an employee will be allowed time off and will continue to receive scheduled pay. The employee will not suffer any loss of accrued leave time nor any reduction in salary as a consequence of the receipt of any fee or compensation for jury duty.

If an employee is called for jury duty during a particularly busy time, the immediate supervisor may instruct the employee to request a postponement from court service. To qualify for pay during periods of court service, the employee must furnish documentary proof of such service. An employee is expected to work when not actually in court.

An employee who is called to appear as an expert witness may accept compensation only when the court appearances are made on the employee's own time. Members of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Medical Service, Research and Development Plan and members of The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston Dental Service, Research and Development Plan may only accept compensation for appearing as an expert witness as allowed by the bylaws of those organizations.

Faculty and administrative and professional employees who participate as consulting or testifying expert witnesses in suits in which the State of Texas is a party must complete the Expert Witness Reporting Form and submit it to the Office of Legal Affairs by September 15 for the preceding fiscal year.

III. CONTACTS

• • Human Resources
  • 713-500-3130
  • https://www.uth.edu/hr/department/employee-relations/
• • Office of Legal Affairs (reporting of participation as an expert witness in a suit in which the State of Texas is a party)
  • 713-500-3268
  • [email protected]
  • https://inside.uth.edu/legal/contact-us.htm

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