Slightly different jury service question

[GillsMan]

Wife just been called up. According to the notice, you can defer but only to be called again during the next 12 months.

With a kid to take to school and a small baby to look after, this just defers the problem. I'm PCG member so if I got forced to do it I'd be covered but, if wife does, it means that possibly I've got to take time off to take over the childcare.

Could be a fair bit of lost income. Unfortunately, no, we don't have family who could help take over.

Anyone successfully got it canned on this basis?

What do self-employed people do generally?

Assuming you don't get paid less than a childminder, then I think I have your solution. Clue = engage a childminder.

[jmo21]

Wife just been called up. According to the notice, you can defer but only to be called again during the next 12 months.

With a kid to take to school and a small baby to look after, this just defers the problem. I'm PCG member so if I got forced to do it I'd be covered but, if wife does, it means that possibly I've got to take time off to take over the childcare.

Could be a fair bit of lost income. Unfortunately, no, we don't have family who could help take over.

Anyone successfully got it canned on this basis?

What do self-employed people do generally?

I wonder what happens when you say "I don't have anyone to take care of my kids I'm a full time mother"?

Do they expect your other half to take time off work? Must be plenty of people in that situation.

Surely not?

Either that, or she can go along with the baby. Couldn't possibly be done for contempt of court?!

[psychocandy]

Assuming you don't get paid less than a childminder, then I think I have your solution. Clue = engage a childminder.

Baby not such a problem. But child 1 goes to school 5 miles away. Childminders whereas they do school runs only pick up from 'local' school (i.e. not one 5 miles away).

[psychocandy]

I wonder what happens when you say "I don't have anyone to take care of my kids I'm a full time mother"?

Do they expect your other half to take time off work? Must be plenty of people in that situation.

Surely not?

Either that, or she can go along with the baby. Couldn't possibly be done for contempt of court?!

Thats just it. In my area childminders are not easy to come by either. We've just started baby going once a week for a few hours and that was a struggle finding someone.

Can imagine it'd be impossible to find one to cover for just two weeks temporarily.

Those that are available want long term contracts signed (obviously).

[GillsMan]

Baby not such a problem. But child 1 goes to school 5 miles away. Childminders whereas they do school runs only pick up from 'local' school (i.e. not one 5 miles away).

So childminder can take care of the baby, but Child 1 needs to get to school. Let me chuck a few suggestions at you:

• See if anyone else goes to the school from nearby who can take Child 1
• Pay a childminder an extra £20 or whatever to do the extra journey
• See if school has a club that Child 1 can join before school so you can drop them off on your way to work
• Any mates do a similar journey that could take Child 1 in exchange for you filling their tank up?
• Advise client you will work different hours while wife is on jury duty.

You'll be able to find a childminder to do a school run for two weeks for a bit of extra cash definitely.

For Christ's sake PC, I do feel sorry for you on these boards sometimes, but you've got to learn to tie your own shoelaces. You see a problem in every solution; there's always a reason why a simple solution won't work for you. You're a contractor - taking time off just to look after the children while wife is on jury service is just stupid.

You've got money (presumably). People want money. You need a problem solving. Marry them together. Or advise client you're working different hours, presuming you're outside IR35 and actually have some control over your working hours, that is.

[psychocandy]

So childminder can take care of the baby, but Child 1 needs to get to school. Let me chuck a few suggestions at you:

• See if anyone else goes to the school from nearby who can take Child 1
• Pay a childminder an extra £20 or whatever to do the extra journey
• See if school has a club that Child 1 can join before school so you can drop them off on your way to work
• Any mates do a similar journey that could take Child 1 in exchange for you filling their tank up?
• Advise client you will work different hours while wife is on jury duty.

You'll be able to find a childminder to do a school run for two weeks for a bit of extra cash definitely.

For Christ's sake PC, I do feel sorry for you on these boards sometimes, but you've got to learn to tie your own shoelaces. You see a problem in every solution; there's always a reason why a simple solution won't work for you. You're a contractor - taking time off just to look after the children while wife is on jury service is just stupid.

You've got money (presumably). People want money. You need a problem solving. Marry them together. Or advise client you're working different hours, presuming you're outside IR35 and actually have some control over your working hours, that is.

Gills,

Take it from me - its not that easy. Childminders can't take £20 cash off you and do you a favour. Its all tightly controlled. They're restricted by numbers of kids so can't 'do a backhander' and go and pick someones kid up for a bit of cash. If they did they'd lose their licence.

Also, I think the limit is 6 kids or something. Even if they've got a 7 seater then its not so easy to fit them all in the car. Some childminders dont even offer a school pickup service.

Might be different in other parts of the country but near me its not easy to get someone. Like I said, we're on one half day a week and on waiting list for another half day.

Also, like I said no-one will be interested in a two week gig looking after the baby or £20 cash. Why would they? They've got plenty of people currently paying 40 hrsx £4 for a full week plus a number waiting on their list. (Not so bad an earner for 6 kids at £4 hr each).

I hear what you're saying but money doesn't solve everything. We're not helped by the fact that we've no family in the area where we live and son goes to school outside area (so none of his friends live near).

My current client is 90 mins travel. Flexibility with hours to certain extent but it would be lot easier with local client.

[kal]

Gills,

Take it from me - its not that easy. Childminders can't take £20 cash off you and do you a favour. Its all tightly controlled. They're restricted by numbers of kids so can't 'do a backhander' and go and pick someones kid up for a bit of cash. If they did they'd lose their licence.

Also, I think the limit is 6 kids or something. Even if they've got a 7 seater then its not so easy to fit them all in the car. Some childminders dont even offer a school pickup service.

Might be different in other parts of the country but near me its not easy to get someone. Like I said, we're on one half day a week and on waiting list for another half day.

Also, like I said no-one will be interested in a two week gig looking after the baby or £20 cash. Why would they? They've got plenty of people currently paying 40 hrsx £4 for a full week plus a number waiting on their list. (Not so bad an earner for 6 kids at £4 hr each).

I hear what you're saying but money doesn't solve everything. We're not helped by the fact that we've no family in the area where we live and son goes to school outside area (so none of his friends live near).

My current client is 90 mins travel. Flexibility with hours to certain extent but it would be lot easier with local client.

Agree, also there's the issue of vetting, I certainly wouldn't leave my children with the first random person that accepted 20 quid I bunged them, trust of this kind takes time...

[GillsMan]

Fine. Then take two weeks off work then. That's your solution.

[kal]

Fine. Then take two weeks off work then. That's your solution.

That's exactly what I would do.

[GillsMan]

That's exactly what I would do.

Wow. No way would my partner's jury service cause me to need to take time off of work, and we also have children. Maybe I just see a lot of potential solutions instead of barriers to get things done though...