Jury service

Employers must allow an employee time off if called for jury service.

The law gives employees the right not to be dismissed or treated detrimentally because they have gone on jury service.

If the employee’s absence on jury service would cause substantial injury to the employer’s business, the employer can ask the employee to delay his jury service. However, an employee can only apply to delay jury service once in a 12-month period. If the employee’s request to delay jury service is refused, the employer has to give the employee the time off.

There is no legal obligation on an employer to pay an employee while on jury service. If an employer does not pay his employees, they can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court. Alternatively an employer could top up the court’s loss of earnings allowance and expenses so that employees do not lose any pay.

Government guidance on this area can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Public duties

Employee have the right to be permitted to take