New job, jury service.

[wildlygreen]

Been offered a job I was desperate for today yay! However, I have a jury citation which would begin the second week of my new job. The timing couldn't be worse. AIBU to not tell them until my first day as I won't have anything in writing between now and then? I am worried that if I tell them now, they will retract the offer as it's a delayed start anyway. I want to tell them now and have anxiety about keeping it to myself but I don't know how they'll react. Any advice?😓

Can you apply to delay the jury duty?

Defer the jury duty

Tell the jury service department

Prioritise your job security

Yes, this is one occasion where they might agree the request for deferment.

If they have been through the process of recruitment they really won't want to redo it for something well understood. When you try to defer see if you can bring it forward to the last couple of weeks at your current place. If not push it back as far as you can.

As a hiring manager, I'd much prefer you were open and honest about it now and defer your work start until after your jury duty. If you defer, don't you have to then go on jury duty within a year or so? Which will be far more disruptive to the business as you'll be fully up to speed by then. I'd really not be impressed if you dropped that on my lap on your first day at work.

I've been a hiring manager and value open communication- why not reach out to your recruiter/hiring manager and tell them you've been selected but will try to delay it. At the very least, if you cant delay, they know you've tried.

They aren't going to rescind your offer because of jury service.

Edit to add: Giving them the option is a good idea also - Tell them the situation and say if I cant delay, would you prefer me to start for a week ahead of service, or after?

Jury service isn’t something you have control over so if they would rescind the offer over jury service it’s not that much of a dream job because they aren’t going to be happy if you have to take any extended leave (sickness, bereavement). Not telling them is starting on the wrong foot.

It doesn't have the option for delay, only exemption, I'm in Scotland if that makes any difference.