To think jury duty is going to ruin my summer plans

[sulkingaboutjuryduty]

Got my jury duty summons which I was fairly gutted about, having recently returned from mat leave, I'm a part time accountant and I love my job.

Asked to defer and was declined, so it starts on 16th August. I have a 15 month old and a 3.5year old, the 3.5 year old has 30 free hours which I use on my 3 working days and then the baby is with my mum. In six week holidays I was planning to take a mixture of annual leave, pay for holiday clubs and mum will help out a bit. Now there will be at least 2 weeks of their "school holidays" where I can't do anything with them, I've got to fork out for childcare over and above my working pattern and reading the leaflet, it doesn't qualify for claiming back?

My work have been great and said they will pay my normal salary so I won't need to claim loss of earnings but if I've got to put them in childcare it's going to cost me a fortune! My mum can't have them on my non working weekdays as she works, the baby will need a settling in period and the childcare setting I use require a months' notice to terminate so I'm looking at possibly six weeks nursery fee for her.
I'm just feeling like I will be significantly impacted by this.

[BlatheringOn]

Sorry, don't know why this turned up on my feed - I see it was last month. Hope it worked out for you.

[BlatheringOn]

It might be worth contacting them and offering an alternate date. When I was home educating my ASD son I needed to be available to take him to his GCSE exam centre. I told them the final date and that I would be available from Monday, x July. They booked me for that Monday and I then sat on a couple of cases over a 2 week period.

[Dontphunkwithmyheart]

You can claim childcare costs 100%, I claimed mine for 2 weeks of YMCA Day camp and this was 2019

[Olu123]

I did jury service two years ago and I got paid for childcare. Had to get nursery to validate the days/ hours on the form I was given

[Xenia]

I agree. It is not like buying a new pair of shoes in a shop. A tiny child cannot simply be left with someone particularly if they have never had childcare before.

[lavenderandwisteria]

Plus it’s the practicalities of finding childcare that is temporary but no one knows how temporary.

[Xenia]

Someone said above the court DOES pay for childcare up to £64 a day (although childcare in London is double that so not much use around here)

[omgthepain]

A school mum has been called this summer too she rang the court and said she had no childcare and could only be available between 9:30-2:30 term time only
They let her off and have noted her circumstances

I don't see a problem with this there are thousands of people willing and able to do it without added childcare pressures.

Would the court pay for childcare?? I very much doubt it!!

[Bearhorn]

@IntermittentParps

I assumed that they always let parents of school age children off jury service?

I bloody hope not. Not exactly a fair spread of society if juries always exclude all those people, is it? And anyway, what about people who have other commitments? Are they lesser?

I wasn't suggesting that people with other commitments shouldn't be let off too. I was talking specifically about the reason I was let off. I think lots of non-childcare related commitments should also be good reason not to have to to do jury service.

[lavenderandwisteria]

Would you suggest my six month old looks after himself then parps?

[motogogo]

Just state its farming season and your husband can't have the kids, and that you can't get child care locally. They will let you off. Legitimate reasons

[IntermittentParps]

I assumed that they always let parents of school age children off jury service?

I bloody hope not. Not exactly a fair spread of society if juries always exclude all those people, is it? And anyway, what about people who have other commitments? Are they lesser?

[Bearhorn]

I had two children at primary school when I was called up. I just said I had no one to collect them from school and I was let off. No questions asked. No fuss. I assumed that they always let parents of school age children off jury service?

[Bumply]

I've been called several times but not actually done a case.
Deferred once for being 8 months pregnant. They quibbled, but I figured there would be no guarantee I'd be around for the full trial.
Once where I went in on first day to be told not required and call each evening to see if I was needed which I wasn't.
Once where it would have caused huge problems for work to not have me available. Couldn't get out of it, but case abandoned on first day after hanging around for hours with no explanation.
Once where I made it as far as my name in a bowl but wasn't picked.
Once where I had a hospital appointment (pre cataract op so wouldn't have actually caused problems to move it) and just sending a copy of that got me off.

[lavenderandwisteria]

Fair enough sooty

[ilovesooty]

@lavenderandwisteria

My ethical principles wouldn’t extend to harming my baby.

The poster to whom I was referring didn't 'get out of it' for childcare reasons.

[Jellybabiesforbreakfast]

I mean, round here I'm just not sure how you would do it even if you wanted to. Most nurseries and childminders are booked up months in advance and wouldn't look kindly on settling your child just for them to leave again.

[lavenderandwisteria]

Yes exactly jelly

[Jellybabiesforbreakfast]

What is 'ethical' about dumping a small child who has never been cared for by anyone else into temporary low-cost childcare (let's face it, £64.95 a day isn't buying you good quality childcare in most areas, especially if you have more than one child) without having a proper settling-in period?

If we really want parents of young children to do jury service, we need to be prepared to put our hands in our pockets and pay a decent rate for childcare. Most parents won't be able to secure a nursery place just for a couple of weeks so will need a temporary nanny or babysitter.

[lavenderandwisteria]

My ethical principles wouldn’t extend to harming my baby.

[ilovesooty]

@SofiaMichelle

got off by saying I had panic attacks and agoraphobia. They did not ask for a doctors note but I could have got one.

Find a convenient illness like a pulled muscle in your back and get a sick note.

You must be so proud of yourself.

Not really worth engaging with people like that. They have no ethical principles and simply don't care.

[user1471447863]

@gingerbiscuits

To be honest, you might be worrying over nothing - I was called up recently & discharged almost immediately as there weren't enough cases being heard - I wasn't even out of work a day! Apparently it happens quite a lot.

You may well be right but this shows what a rubbish system it is. People will have cleared their schedule for 2 weeks, businesses may well have had to arrange cover/temp staff that they cannot very well withdraw. People will have booked childcare places that that they will be charged for.
It is messing a lot of people around for no good reason.

[GrannyRose15]

Jury service is an obligation for everyone. You will be taking part in a century's old practice which has ensured our fundamental freedoms against oppression.
Yes it may be a hassle but please try to fulfil your duty. If no-one accepts the challenge of jury service it threatens one of the pillars on which our liberal democracy is founded.
Good luck!

[AdobeWanKenobi]

I was called three years ago. I was quite looking forward to it as had no issues with kids etc.
Morning of the first day I woke up feeling awful. Coughing, eyes streaming, aching etc. Dragged myself to the court where the lady organising the jurors took one look at me and called me a taxi home.

You need to contest the decision and not leave it until the day. Go with the BF and the childcare secondary.

[Vanilli1978]

Surely there’s plenty of people that can do it without primary school aged children? Then those who have young children ..or any children..can do it during term time?! Some people are desperate to do it..and never get called. I know I would be gutted to lose 2 weeks with my children this summer after all the lockdowns etc & would not be happy at having to find and pay for childcare . Hope you get it sorted op.