As most employees in Michigan know, there are many things that can take you out of work for a while, such as falling prey to a serious illness or suffering an injury. Births, deaths and family matters can also cause you to need a few days off here and there. However, one more thing that many people forget about, however, is jury duty.

As this article on employee rights explains, your employer is not obliged under the Fair Labor Standards Act to pay you for the time you spend participating in jury duty service. However, if this loss of wages is likely to prove a problem for you, then you may be able to be excused from your obligations on the grounds that it would cost you too much to attend.

On the other hand, you may find that it is your employer that tries to block you from attending. In some cases, workers are threatened, bribed or intimidated in order to prevent them from doing their duty. However, this is against the law, so do not be afraid to stand up to your employer and fulfill your obligations. Otherwise, you put yourself at risk by reneging on your obligation to serve on the duty. Furthermore, it may encourage your employer to continue to bully or take advantage of you in the future.

Sadly, there are many employee rights that too few people know about. As a result, all too many employers take advantage of workers who do not realize that they are being subjected to illegal conditions. If you have experienced unfair treatment of any kind, or you feel your rights have been breached, an attorney could be a valuable ally. He or she can advise you about your options and may be able to help you pursue the fair working environment that you deserve.