Jury service

Q. Does an employer have to pay a worker for time off for jury service?

A. Unlike entitlement to time off for certain public duties such as being a magistrate or a member of a local authority, there is no statutory time off for jury service, even though it is a legal duty.

However, an employer can be in contempt of court if it is unreasonably obstructive in letting you have time off for jury service.

You have no right to be paid by your employer for time off for jury service, unless this is a term of your contract of employment. However, you can claim expenses from the court for financial loss of up to £55.19 per full day during the first 10 days, and £110.40 per day for any time in excess of that, plus travel and a subsistence allowance of £4.73 per day.

Details of allowances for jury service: www.courtservice.gov.uk/using_courts/jury