Can I be forced to do jury service and get time off work?
Yes — jury service is compulsory if you're summoned, and your employer must allow you the time off. The basis is the Juries Act 1974. You can be called if you're 18–75, on the electoral register, and have lived in the UK for 5+ years since age 13. Your employer must allow the time off (they can ask you to seek one deferral if your absence would seriously harm the business), and dismissing or penalising you for jury service is automatically unfair. There's no legal duty for your employer to pay you (unless your contract says so); if you're not paid, you can claim a loss-of-earnings allowance from the court, plus travel and food. You can get one deferral within 12 months, or be excused for a good reason. In short: yes, it's compulsory, and you're protected at work.
📋 The rules
- Compulsory if summoned (aged 18–75, on the register)
- Employer must allow the time off
- Dismissing you for jury service is automatically unfair
- No legal duty to pay you unless your contract says so
- If unpaid, claim a loss-of-earnings allowance from court
🔓 Exceptions
- Disqualified if on bail or with certain convictions
- Excusal for serious illness, caring duties or recent service
- One deferral within 12 months for a temporary clash
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Failing to attend, or giving false information to get out of it, can mean a fine of up to £1,000. If your employer doesn't pay you, you can claim a court loss-of-earnings allowance (capped): up to about £64.95 a day for the first 10 days, £129.91 from day 11, and more for very long trials, plus travel and subsistence. You must usually respond to the summons within 7 days. Beware a myth: "my employer must pay my full salary" is false — there's no statutory right to pay during jury service; if your employer doesn't pay, you claim the capped court allowance instead. (Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own jury systems and rates.) If summoned: tell your employer, respond to the court promptly, ask for a deferral if you have a genuine clash, and keep evidence of any lost earnings to claim back.
📎 Official sources
- GOV.UK — jury service: what you can claim →
- GOV.UK — giving staff time off for jury service →
- Juries Act 1974 →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to do jury service?
Yes, if you're summoned. Jury service is a compulsory civic duty for those who qualify — generally aged 18 to 75, on the electoral register, and resident in the UK for at least five years since the age of 13. You can ask to defer once or be excused for a good reason, but you can't simply refuse to attend.
Does my employer have to give me time off?
Yes. Your employer is legally required to allow you the time off to attend jury service. They can ask you to apply to defer your service once if your absence would seriously disrupt the business, but they can't refuse outright. Dismissing or treating you unfairly because of jury service is automatically unfair dismissal.
Will I be paid during jury service?
Not necessarily. There's no legal duty for your employer to pay you while you're on jury service, although some choose to, or your contract may provide for it. If you're not paid, you can claim a loss-of-earnings allowance from the court, up to daily caps, along with travel and subsistence expenses.
How much can I claim if I lose pay?
You can claim a loss-of-earnings allowance from the court if you're not paid, up to capped daily amounts. For sittings over four hours, this is roughly £64.95 a day for the first ten days, rising to about £129.91 from day 11, and more for very long trials, plus travel and food costs.
Can I get out of jury service?
You can apply to defer your service once within a 12-month period if the date is genuinely inconvenient, or ask to be excused for a good reason, such as serious illness, caring responsibilities or recent jury service. You're disqualified if you're on bail or have certain criminal convictions. Simply not turning up risks a £1,000 fine.
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