To not understand what they expect me to do?

[bloodypublicservice]

I was called up for jury service starting in less than two weeks from now. I work Saturdays only as I otherwise do all of the childcare whilst my partner works full time. Originally I stated I was available as my MIL was going to have our daughter, however MIL has experienced a significant and unexpected health issue resulting in being hospitalised for the foreseeable. I've contacted the relevant department to have received a response stating that my request to be excused from this call for service has been refused and that I must still attend at the stated day/time. It mentions appealing but that a hearing is likely to be called, and given the start date is so soon, it's realistically not going to be resolved before starting.

WIBU to show up on my start date with my child and ask what else they expected me to do? We have no other local family and no provision for external childcare.

Get a sick note from your Dr if you can. Explain the stress the family situation is putting on you (ham it up if necessary).

Good luck.

What age is your daughter? Can your husband take time to look after her?

In a two parent family I don't think they will let you off so easily.

I've refused jury service based on child care and breastfeeding, can you say you're breastfeeding.

What does no provision for external childcare mean? Can you offer some kind of proof of this? As that's what they will expect you to do- send your DD to a childminder or nursery.

It sounds as though your husband will need to take some time off. I don't think you have grounds to be excused. Turning up with your child wastes the court's time.

Surely you appreciate a jury is vital to the upkeep of the law and the jailing or wrong uns?
Yabu not to find childcare.. Friend? Neighbours?

YABU for suggesting she leave her child with a neighbour! Wtaf?!

This. Our justice system is dependent on jury service, you would need a very good reason to get out of it and in a 2 parent household not being able to get childcare isn’t enough.

You can claim reimbursement for the cost of childcare (although it's not a lot), details here: https://www.gov.uk/jury-service/what-you-can-claim-if-youre-not-working

Are there any local childminders in your area that would be able to take your child on an ad-hoc basis?

What would you do if you needed an operation ?

Some workplaces require more notice to request leave. Mine is minimum 2 weeks.

I never understand how people would be expected to leave their children with a previously unknown childminder whilst they serve on a jury. I would not be leaving my DC with someone new at that kind of notice.

A request to defer may be viewed differently.

You had a childcare option, it is no longer an option, so jury service in 2 weeks is not possible.

I think that considering we live in a democracy and everyone has a right to a fair trial (including those who refuse jury service) we should do everything within our power to attend

if you absolutely can't and there is 100 percent no way you can well then it is what it is. I would personally try to go

jury service is not someone else's problem

The other issue is that if he could take time off but it’s unpaid, how are the family supposed to survive? Obviously the judicial system is vital but it can’t not be human.

I been excused for lack of childcare and separately, for breastfeeding.
I have been excused twice this year because I had a holiday already booked both times.
I have also appeared for jury duty before (wasn't called) and am happy to do so again. We have the entirety of our adult life to serve.

This isn't an operation. Apples and oranges.

I expect it would be a different scenario as the DH would have planned it in or possibly requested parental leave with due notice. And the hospital would have given a timeline for how long OP would be in hospital. Easier to plan than jury service which could go on for a long time.

It is our civic duty but duty to my DC whilst they are small comes first.

Do you not know in some areas there is an 18 month waiting list for nursery places?

She's not going to find a place in 2 weeks for 2 weeks Jury Service.

While jury service is everyone's civic duty/responsibility, the fact that the childcare system is in such a shambles means that women are disproportionately affected by being unable to secure childcare.
And the cost of living crisis means many people can't "just take time/ask DH to take time off work"

If the government cared about all of the systems in the country that are breaking down, then everything would run more smoothly and parents/carers would be able to attend jury service

This. I don't know why these threads always attract accusations of jury duty dodging when it's actually just women who don't know how on earth they are going to manage it with small children.

Who is able to magic up two weeks of childcare with two weeks notice?

Who is allowed to book two weeks of annual leave with two weeks notice?

Who has a neighbour / friend who is willing and able to provide childcare for two weeks?

MN never ceases to amaze me.

If the government cared about jury service it’d be paid

It's quite existing policy making to not fully take on board the amount of caring responsibilities for kids and adults done by women and that they can't just be palmed off. You need to put in the appeal anyway. Does your husband have any leave to take? Would him taking unpaid leave put you in financial hardship. There's another thread on this from 2022 that looks like you may have cause for deferral. Good luck.

I can only think it’s people in a bubble. It mystifies me - even if you DO have a support system or paid childcare it stands to reason you must know not everybody does.

Also, why would the DH's employer agree to give him time off because his DW has been called for jury duty. I am pretty sure they won't give a shiny shit.

Sorry OP, none of this helps you. Your last resort probably would be to turn up with your child. An unhelpful pp suggested this would be 'wasting the courts time' but you have made clear to the court your situation so they really have left you with no choice.