Jury Service/Zero Hour Contract

pennypincher3562

Hi

I have just received a letter asking me to attend jury service. However, I am employed on a 'zero hour contract.'

If I were to potentially take weeks off for jury service it could cause me serious financial problems. Also since it is a 'zero hour contract,' it could lose me the opportunity to work.

I know that the jury service offer you a small amount of money for attending per week, but I'm not sure it will cover my losses.

Do you think I've got a case for being exempted?

Thanks.

pmlindyloo

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Hi

I have just received a letter asking me to attend jury service. However, I am employed on a 'zero hour contract.'

If I were to potentially take weeks off for jury service it could cause me serious financial problems. Also since it is a 'zero hour contract,' it could lose me the opportunity to work.

I know that the jury service offer you a small amount of money for attending per week, but I'm not sure it will cover my losses.

Do you think I've got a case for being exempted?

Thanks.

These are the amounts that they will pay whilst you are on jury service

https://www.gov.uk/jury-service/what-you-can-claim

If you do not work on a regular basis then it is possible that you would receive more money when you are on jury service

Your employer has to complete a form (you should have it with your letter) and sometimes this may cause confusion as regards the hours worked.

Your employer could telephone and ask what hours should be put down but my reading on this suggests that the employer should do an average of the last so many weeks (not sure how many weeks - may need to enquire)

As someone on a zero hours contract you still have the legal right to do jury service and retain your job. Your employer does not have to pay you. Do you have a contract or an employee handbook which tells you anything about this?

Mersey_2

My OH received £15 for Travel, £6 for lunch and £30/day loss of earnings, last year.


I was surprised it was that much.


Witnesses also receive expenses.

pennypincher3562

The expenses aren't that great compared to financial loss from not being in employment.

Another concern, is that since you have no idea how long a trial will last, my employer will not be able to book me in for employment (always done at last minute.)

Once the trial ends, I could potentially miss out on a week's work (due to not being booked in) and be out of pocket by hundreds.

I really need to try and get exempted if possible.

pmlindyloo

You might be able to defer but there are very few circumstances when you can be exempted - these should be outlined in your letter.

Have a read of this:

http://www.courtroomadvice.co.uk/why-was-i-picked-for-jury-service.html

London50

You would be VERY lucky to get out of it based on the reasons you give, most jury duty only lasts for 2 weeks and although I do feel sorry for the position you will be in I do not believe that you will be able to get out of it for financial reasons.

pennypincher3562

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You might be able to defer but there are very few circumstances when you can be exempted - these should be outlined in your letter.

Have a read of this:

http://www.courtroomadvice.co.uk/why-was-i-picked-for-jury-service.html

Yes, you are probably right.

I have been deferred in past (and eventually attended.)

I will try and go for deferment again.

London50

I do not think you stand a chance defering for a second time

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3. Delaying or being excused from jury service
You may be able to delay (‘defer’) jury service, eg if you:

have a holiday booked
are having an operation
You can only defer jury service once.

If you defer you must say when you will be available for jury service over the next 12 months.

You may need to prove you have a genuine reason if you say you won’t be available at any time during this period, eg a letter from your doctor.

pennypincher3562

London50 wrote: »

I do not think you stand a chance defering for a second time.

I deferred years ago, and eventually spent a whole week in court as a juror. So I think I have a chance at deferment.

I am actually very concerned about this situation, as due to the zero hour contract setup it could cause serious financial difficulties.

In a zero hour contract, your employer offers no guarantee of employment whatsoever - you literally have to be sitting at your phone first thing every morning to see IF a text appears.

HighamKneeDee

I attended Jury Service 4 years ago for the second time. As I stood at the desk waiting to be signed in there was an elderly farmer , turned up the same time as me, who answered 'pardon ' 3 times to everything he was asked in order to verify him. Within 5 minutes the woman on the desk told him he was acknowledged as attending then told him he could go home and that he would not be expected to turn up any more. There's your way out.

London50

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

I deferred years ago, and eventually spent a whole week in court as a juror. So I think I have a chance at deferment.

I am actually very concerned about this situation, as due to the zero hour contract setup it could cause serious financial difficulties.

In a zero hour contract, your employer offers no guarantee of employment whatsoever - you literally have to be sitting at your phone first thing every morning to see IF a text appears.

I have also done jury service just over two years ago at a crown court and did hear that although many letters are sent it is still hard to get the numbers they need as people do not respond to the summons and that it is very seldom chased up,this was from a court person. Not that it is right but people do it then wait yo see if they get a second letter.