Reply to: Jury Duty

[SueEllen]

So Im assuming any 'invite' letter you get to go along to jury service is just sent in normal post? i.e. not even recorded?

It wouldn't be cost effective to send them by recorded post.

They are also well aware a lot of them just don't seem to turn up.

[psychocandy]

Just to point out what I said is illegal but many small employers cannot afford to let staff go off for two weeks to 8 months in the worse cases, so people just don't turn up.

So Im assuming any 'invite' letter you get to go along to jury service is just sent in normal post? i.e. not even recorded?

[doodab]

You can ask to be excused on the basis you work for yourself and possibly only income earner in the family (assuming you are).
Based on that you should get an exemption.

WHS. Or at least a deferral to another time. This will give you a chance to insure yourself.

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk...0108508400.pdf

Jurors may be excused for valid business reasons. Applications of this type
should, however, be looked at closely and granted only if there would be unusual
hardship. A small business is an example of a case where such hardship might
be suffered, although each case must be considered on its individual merits.
Paragraph 4 (above) applies.

[Contreras]

It would be a contractor's nightmare to get stuck on a serious case, like a murder trial or something else that could last months! Unless of course you have PCG+ and aren't on contract anyway, in which case they'll pay you a daily rate based your last set of accounts

...only for the first 10 days. See previous post up there ^^.

Interesting to note that you could claim PCG+ as well as your daily rate if you can work remotely whilst waiting to be assigned a case in court.

Hmm... if that's not fraud then it's too close for comfort IMHO... you might quickly find yourself back in court again . Good luck anyway!

[ChimpMaster]

It would be a contractor's nightmare to get stuck on a serious case, like a murder trial or something else that could last months! Unless of course you have PCG+ and aren't on contract anyway, in which case they'll pay you a daily rate based your last set of accounts

Interesting to note that you could claim PCG+ as well as your daily rate if you can work remotely whilst waiting to be assigned a case in court.

[SueEllen]

Just to point out what I said is illegal but many small employers cannot afford to let staff go off for two weeks to 8 months in the worse cases, so people just don't turn up.

[kingcook]

You are better of not responding at all and not turning up.

Strangely legal letters and letters for jury service have a habit of going missing from people's letter boxes........

^^ This, definately. ^^

[kaiser78]

You can ask to be excused on the basis you work for yourself and possibly only income earner in the family (assuming you are).
Based on that you should get an exemption.

[I000453]

Join PCG

I was called up to Jury Service last year. I found to my pleasant surprise that PCG members who are PCGPlus members get jury service cover.
Up to £300 per day for up to 10 days.
Plus you get you £30 or so from court service.
And given that most of the time is spent waiting for next case or lawyers to argue it out, you can spend a lot of time in the waiting room. So if they have wifi ( like my Crown Court did) or you have other wifi access why not continue to work remotely anyway ?

Think about it for next time - lots of other other benefits to joinning PCG _ Professional Contractors Group.

p.s. I am just a happy member - not an employee or otherwise connected.

[jmo21]

They ask for evidence of your holiday if you use that excuse.

Happened to both my folks and in-laws in last 2 months.

[captainham]

Yep, that's right.

Thanks for the response!

[Qdos Contractor]

I assume income = day rate, but I'll ask QDOS.

Yep, that's right.

[Contreras]

I think PCG+ covers up to £300 a day for jury service.

Jury Service cover | PCG

The Jury Service Allowance will be limited to a maximum of 10 days at £300 per day less a deduction of any amount recovered from the relevant court.

In order to arrive at the daily amount payable, the member will provide details of the length and value of the current engagement from which it will be possible to calculate a daily rate. If there is no current engagement, then the daily rate will be calculated on the basis of the last set of accounts.

[northernladuk]

Tell them you are racist, homophobic and generally a pretty nasty piece of work and are not fit to judge others due to the failings in your social skills...... someone else tried it.

Oh yeah, someone else tried to get out of it by going on holiday as well.. I think she has been released now though.

[captainham]

Probably only for salary.

I think PCG+ covers up to £300 a day for jury service.

Ah, I see what you mean now. In that case, not sure if it covers only salary or also day rate:

"The insurer agrees to indemnify the income, salary or wages of the insured or any director of, partners in or employee of the insured."

I assume income = day rate, but I'll ask QDOS.