Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service / en Information for employers of jurors /content/information-employers-jurors <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Information for employers of jurors</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/10" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">kmcgowan</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2014-02-18T11:29:20+00:00" title="Tuesday, 18 February, 2014 - 11:29" class="datetime">Tue, 18/02/2014 - 11:29</time> </span> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-book-nav-d8- view-id-book_nav_d8_ view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-e1fdcf98ac7cfaade445ddf3eec166ef65f1af2c79fbdc2b9884d0b47064b772"> <div><h2><a href="/content/allowing-time-work" hreflang="en">Allowing time off work</a></h2></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-book-nav-d8- view-id-book_nav_d8_ view-display-id-entity_view_2 js-view-dom-id-844f8017fe79e7ea4bb5dfdbc29547951f839ac915f10dfee182ed521e8e23b8"> <header> <h3>In this guide:</h3> </header> <div> <ul> <li><a href="/content/allowing-time-work" hreflang="en">Allowing time off work</a></li> <li><a href="/content/who-has-right-time-work-and-when-it-paid" hreflang="en">Who has the right to time off work and when is it paid?</a></li> <li><a href="/content/time-work-information-and-consultation-purposes" hreflang="en">Time off work for information and consultation purposes</a></li> <li><a href="/content/time-work-training-and-certain-job-related-duties-and-activities" hreflang="en">Time off work for training and certain job-related duties and activities</a></li> <li><a href="/content/statutory-time-work-parental-reasons" hreflang="en">Statutory time off work for parental reasons</a></li> <li><a href="/content/time-work-personal-commitments-and-emergencies" hreflang="en">Time off work for personal commitments and emergencies</a></li> <li><a href="/content/time-public-and-judicial-service-and-duties" hreflang="en">Time off for public and judicial service and duties</a></li> <li><a href="/content/information-employers-jurors" hreflang="en">Information for employers of jurors</a></li> <li><a href="/content/time-work-employees-armed-forces" hreflang="en">Time off work for employees in the armed forces</a></li> <li><a href="/content/advantages-managing-your-staffs-time-work" hreflang="en">Advantages of managing your staff&#039;s time off work</a></li> <li><a href="/content/paid-and-unpaid-statutory-time-rights-workers" hreflang="en">Paid and unpaid statutory time-off rights for workers</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-book-nav-d8- view-id-book_nav_d8_ view-display-id-entity_view_3 js-view-dom-id-e10eb45638a13cf2d8f862b475728eb5f359ec7c0110f1813555af8bc9fdf079"> <header> </header> <div> <ul> <li><div data-history-node-id="11309" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Who has the right to time off work and when is it paid? </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Time off for trade union work, TUPE consultation, pension scheme, and public duties is a paid, statutory requirement.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11009 clearfix"> <span id="section-11009"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Employees, and other types of workers, have a range of rights to time off work. While most of these rights are only available to employees, some are available to all workers. Note that some of this time off must be paid.</p> <h3>Annual leave and other time off</h3> <p>For example, you must give every worker paid annual leave of at least 5.6 weeks - 28 working days for those working a five or six-day week. This can include <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="493ff70a-2dc4-4861-83ad-0be6c4fa6fce" href="/content/bank-and-public-holidays-northern-ireland" title="List of the bank holiday and public holiday dates in Northern Ireland">bank holidays and public holidays</a>.</p> <p>However, you must not dismiss or subject a worker to any detriment if:</p> <ul> <li>they try to use their statutory rights to time off</li> <li>you think they are planning to use one of these rights</li> </ul> <p>Where a worker does not have the statutory right to time off, or has the right but the time off is unpaid, you can choose to:</p> <ul> <li>allow that time off</li> <li>pay them for the time off</li> </ul> <p>For more information, see our table on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3a4d2f8b-8140-4c3d-b8bd-4ce43b645070" href="/content/paid-and-unpaid-statutory-time-rights-workers" title="A table showing whether you are legally obliged to pay an employee for time off">paid and unpaid statutory time-off rights for employees and other workers</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off work: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/holidays-and-leave">Holidays and leave | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/know-how-much-holiday-give-your-staff" hreflang="en">Know how much holiday to give your staff</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/staff-pay" hreflang="en">Staff pay</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/employment-contract" hreflang="en">The employment contract</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/who-has-right-time-work-and-when-it-paid">/content/who-has-right-time-work-and-when-it-paid</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11311" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Time off work for information and consultation purposes </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Time off to be a representative in redundancy and transfer situations, and to attend information and consultation meetings.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11011 clearfix"> <span id="section-11011"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In certain situations, employees have the right to paid time off to act as a trade union or employee representative for the purposes of information and consultation between staff and the employer.</p> <h3>Collective redundancy situations - time off for consultation</h3> <p>Trade union or elected employee representatives have the right to reasonable paid time off to attend information and consultation meetings during a collective redundancy situation.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e82fb930-f463-4cd7-94a3-daa16eba2232" href="/content/redundancy-options" title="Legal obligations when making employees redundant">redundancy: the options</a>.</p> <h3>Business transfer situations - time off for consultation</h3> <p>If you are selling your business (or part of your business), trade union or elected employee representatives have the right to reasonable paid time off to attend information and consultation meetings.</p> <p>For information on business transfer situations and employees, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2d529662-a79a-46fa-a295-6fe38df6ebdb" href="/content/responsibilities-employees-if-you-buy-or-sell-business" title="TUPE regulations and your employees' rights if they are transferred into or out of your business">responsibilities to employees if you buy or sell a business</a>.</p> <p>In both collective redundancy and business transfer situations, you must allow employees paid time off where they are:</p> <ul> <li>standing in an election to become an employee representative</li> <li>undertaking training as such a representative</li> </ul> <p>Read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="60d7b3c0-9584-4800-8244-4147d0e60a67" href="/content/working-non-union-representatives" title="How consulting employees and their representatives can encourage a trusting and co-operative business environment">working with non-union representatives</a>.</p> <h3>Information and consultation agreements</h3> <p>Negotiating representatives have the right to reasonable paid time off for meetings to set up an information and consultation (I&amp;C) arrangement.</p> <p>I&amp;C representatives have the right to reasonable paid time off to exercise their duties.</p> <p>The same right applies to members of a special negotiating body or the European Works Council.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="035a94f6-0536-4567-b8c6-01f656e0d967" href="/content/inform-and-consult-your-employees" title="The types, benefits and legal obligations of consultation and communication">inform and consult your employees</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/topics/advice-employment-rights">Employment rights | DfE guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/work-effectively-trade-unions" hreflang="en">Work effectively with trade unions</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/set-employment-policies-your-business" hreflang="en">Set up employment policies for your business</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/time-work-information-and-consultation-purposes">/content/time-work-information-and-consultation-purposes</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11313" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Time off work for training and certain job-related duties and activities </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Time off for training for those to be made redundant, union and safety representatives, and pension scheme trustees.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11013 clearfix"> <span id="section-11013"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Employees can have paid time off to:</p> <ul> <li>receive training and/or look for a new job if being made redundant</li> <li>receive training for certain job-related roles</li> <li>carry out certain job-related duties</li> </ul> <p>Young employees are entitled to paid time off for training if they meet specific criteria.</p> <h3>Basic training/continuing training for young workers</h3> <p>Employees aged 16 and 17 years old who did not reach a certain standard of education at school have the right to reasonable time off with pay while studying for a qualification that will help them reach that standard.</p> <p>If they turn 18 years old while studying, they have the right to complete the course.</p> <h3>Time off for job-seeking/retraining in a redundancy situation</h3> <p>An employee with at least two years of continuous service who is being made redundant can take reasonable time off with pay to look for another job, or to arrange training. The employer does not have to pay more than two-fifths of a week's pay no matter how much time off they give the employee. For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e82fb930-f463-4cd7-94a3-daa16eba2232" href="/content/redundancy-options" title="Legal obligations when making employees redundant">redundancy: the options</a>.</p> <h3>Time off for carrying out duties for certain job-related roles</h3> <p>Employees have the right to paid time off to carry out:</p> <ul> <li>duties as a representative of employees' safety - see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cee41db2-655f-445a-97b9-de5be56b1416" href="/content/appoint-competent-person-health-and-safety" title="Your legal duty to appoint a competent person">appoint a competent person for health and safety </a></li> <li>pension scheme trustee training and duties</li> <li>trade union training and duties, including as a union learning representative and a union safety representative - read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d9ca436f-88a2-4fe5-a24a-291addbbf22c" href="/content/trade-union-membership-rights" title="Understand the rights of union members, non-union members and union officials in your business">trade union membership rights</a></li> </ul> <h3>Time off for trade union activities</h3> <p>You must give employees who are union representatives of an independent trade union recognised by the employer reasonable paid time off for carrying out union duties and for any training relating to their trade union duties.</p> <p>Union duties are those matters covered by collective bargaining agreements between the employer and the trade union eg duties concerned with functions related to, or connected with, terms and conditions of employment, etc.</p> <p>There is no statutory requirement to pay for time off where the duty is carried out at a time when the union representative would not otherwise have been at work, unless the union representative works flexible hours, such as night shift, but is required to perform representative duties during normal hours.</p> <p>Union representatives and employees who are trade union members of an independent trade union recognised by the employer are entitled to reasonable unpaid time off for carrying out union activities. However, employers may consider payment in certain circumstances, for example, to ensure that workplace meetings are fully represented.</p> <p>Union activities include:</p> <ul> <li>voting in union elections</li> <li>meeting full-time officials to discuss issues relevant to the workplace</li> <li>attending workplace meetings to discuss and vote on the outcome of negotiations</li> </ul> <h3>Time off to accompany a colleague at a disciplinary, grievance, flexible working hearing</h3> <p>Workers - not just employees - have the right to paid time off to accompany a colleague who is:</p> <ul> <li>the subject of a disciplinary hearing</li> <li>attending a hearing relating to a grievance they have raised</li> <li>attending a hearing relating to a flexible working request they have made</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/codes-practice/time-trade-union-duties-and-activities-19th-april-2012">Time off for trade union duties and activities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/disciplinary-procedures-hearings-and-appeals" hreflang="en">Disciplinary procedures, hearings and appeals</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/flexible-working-law-and-best-practice" hreflang="en">Flexible working: the law and best practice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/employment-contract" hreflang="en">The employment contract</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/time-work-training-and-certain-job-related-duties-and-activities">/content/time-work-training-and-certain-job-related-duties-and-activities</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11314" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Statutory time off work for parental reasons </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Time off for maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave or parental leave, and time off for pregnant employees.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11014 clearfix"> <span id="section-11014"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Employees, or agency workers who have worked for 12 continuous weeks in the same job with the same hirer, who are pregnant, new mothers, and adoptive parents - and the partners of such employees - may be entitled to statutory time off around the birth or adoption of their child. Some of this time off is paid if the employee qualifies.</p> <h3>Time off for antenatal care and maternity leave</h3> <p>An employee who becomes pregnant is entitled to:</p> <ul> <li>paid time off during working hours for antenatal care before maternity leave begins</li> <li>be suspended on full pay before maternity leave begins if her job poses a risk to her and/or her unborn baby and there is no suitable alternative work for her</li> <li>52 weeks statutory maternity leave (SML)</li> </ul> <p>She is entitled to statutory maternity pay for the first 39 weeks of SML - but only if she meets certain qualifying criteria.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="6e761101-bdcd-4fdf-aa52-1678c67deadc" href="/content/pregnancy-work" title="Pregnant employees' rights in relation to health and safety, antenatal care and dismissal/discrimination">pregnancy at work</a> and <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="dc18bc3d-678b-460f-9673-d2d99335ce89" href="/content/maternity-leave-and-pay" title="The statutory rights to leave and pay when an employee has a baby">maternity leave and pay</a>.</p> <h3>Time off for antenatal care - partner</h3> <p>Since 5 April 2015, employees who are the husband or partner (including same-sex partner) of a pregnant woman, or are the father of the expected child, or either of the intended parents who are expecting a child from a surrogate mother and who are eligible for and intend to apply for a Parental Order (or have obtained such an Order), are entitled to take unpaid time off work to accompany the pregnant woman to up to two of her antenatal appointments.</p> <p>The time off is capped at 6.5 hours for each appointment. No qualifying service is required.</p> <h3>Adoption leave</h3> <p>If they meet certain qualifying criteria, an employee when adopting a child is entitled to:</p> <ul> <li>52 weeks' statutory adoption leave</li> <li>39 weeks' statutory adoption pay</li> </ul> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="494beaf8-4e9e-431e-b1d5-557ee730547d" href="/content/adoption-leave-and-pay" title="Employees' rights to leave and pay for UK and overseas adoptions">adoption leave and pay</a>.</p> <p>See also&nbsp;<a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a66a1496-1ca7-4f4d-968f-a24c02a29ae6" href="/content/maternity-paternity-and-adoption-leave-and-pay-calculator-employers" title="Calculate an employee's eligibility for statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave or pay">employers' maternity, paternity and adoption calculator</a>.</p> <h3>Time off - pre-adoption appointments</h3> <p>From 5 April 2015, employees who are the primary adopters of a child are entitled to paid time off to attend five appointments after being notified of a match for adoption.</p> <p>Also from this date, employees who are secondary adopters are entitled to unpaid time off to attend two appointments after being notified of a match for adoption. This is capped at 6.5 hours for each appointment. No qualifying service applies.</p> <p>Note that in Northern Ireland, in exceptional cases, time off for pre-adoption appointments may also be granted where an adoption agency intends to place a child with approved foster parents who are also approved prospective adopters.</p> <p>The agency will supply the foster parents with correspondence which can be shown to the employer explaining that they have met the relevant criteria for being matched with the child for the purposes of taking time off, as well as, other entitlements open to adopters.</p> <h3>Paternity leave</h3> <p>If they meet certain qualifying criteria, an employee who is the partner of either a new mother or a main adoptive parent is entitled to:</p> <ul> <li>take a single block of either one week or two consecutive weeks' paternity leave on the birth or adoption of the child</li> <li>one or two weeks' statutory paternity pay</li> </ul> <p>Read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d905be69-eb04-4b54-af0a-a5c4c44de656" href="/content/paternity-leave-and-pay" title="Employees' rights in relation to paternity leave and pay for births, and both UK and overseas adoptions">paternity leave and pay</a>.</p> <h3>Shared parental leave</h3> <p>Eligible employees can take shared parental leave.</p> <p>Read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="11be953c-17a6-4b0e-b06a-a5af2140cd76" href="/content/shared-parental-leave-and-pay" title="Shared parental leave and pay">shared parental leave and pay</a>.</p> <h3>Parental leave</h3> <p>An employee who is a parent is entitled to take 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave. The leave must be taken before the child's 18th birthday and employees can take a maximum of four weeks' leave in any year in respect of any individual child.</p> <p>To qualify for parental leave, the employee must have at least one year's continuous service with you at the time they wish to take the leave.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f7227d13-47ae-4aba-85c3-b7d73578b602" href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" title="Statutory rights to unpaid leave for employees with children and other dependants">parental leave and time off for dependants</a>.</p> <h3>Parental bereavement leave</h3> <p>An employee may be eligible for Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave if they or their partner either:</p> <ul> <li>has a child who has died under 18 years old</li> <li>had a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy</li> </ul> <p>The death or stillbirth must have happened on or after 6 April 2022.</p> <p>An employee can take 2 weeks leave from the first day of their employment for each child who has died or was stillborn.</p> <p>They can choose to take:</p> <ul> <li>2 weeks together</li> <li>2 seperate weeks of leave</li> <li>only one week of leave</li> </ul> <p>The leave:</p> <ul> <li>can start on or after the date of the death or stillbirth</li> <li>must finish within 56 weeks of the date of the death or stillbirth</li> </ul> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2730fb89-c13c-4066-99fa-11c5592dd9d0" href="/content/parental-bereavement-leave-and-pay" title="Guidance for Northern Ireland employers on the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay">parental bereavement leave and pay</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" hreflang="en">Parental leave and time off for dependants</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/statutory-leave-and-pay-entitlements" hreflang="en">Statutory leave and pay entitlements</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/91Ïã½¶»ÆÉ«ÊÓÆµ-employee-work-life-balance" hreflang="en">Support employee work-life balance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/manage-absence-and-sickness" hreflang="en">Manage absence and sickness</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/statutory-time-work-parental-reasons">/content/statutory-time-work-parental-reasons</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11316" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Time off work for personal commitments and emergencies </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An employee's right to unpaid time off to look after dependants in an emergency, discretionary and extended leave.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11016 clearfix"> <span id="section-11016"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>All employees are entitled to reasonable unpaid time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. It can be paid if their <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c3567650-804e-4b10-a502-425395d50755" href="/content/employment-contract" title="Understanding the basic elements of a contract of employment as required by law">employment contract</a> says so, and they will not have to make the time up later on, typically in these arrangements.</p> <p>A dependant normally means a partner, children, or close family members, but could also mean someone else, such as a frail neighbour who is looked after by an employee.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f7227d13-47ae-4aba-85c3-b7d73578b602" href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" title="Statutory rights to unpaid leave for employees with children and other dependants">parental leave and time off for dependants</a>.</p> <h3>Leave for other reasons</h3> <p>Workers may want time off for personal reasons, eg to:</p> <ul> <li>move house</li> <li>attend a wedding</li> <li>when someone gets ill or injured</li> <li>carry out house renovations</li> <li>attend a religious ceremony/event</li> <li>deal with a family problem, eg a divorce</li> <li>attend a doctor's or dentist's appointment</li> <li>attend the funeral of a friend or non-dependant relative</li> </ul> <p>There is no statutory right to this time off. You should have a written policy to cover these situations or you could agree to a period of unpaid leave. Alternatively, you could suggest that the employee use any holiday entitlement they may have.</p> <p>Read more on the&nbsp;<a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="726b78b3-5ae1-4cca-9673-94c1440a9630" href="/content/advantages-managing-your-staffs-time-work" title="Advantages of managing your staff's time off work">advantages of managing your staff's time off work</a>.</p> <h3>Extended leave/career breaks</h3> <p>If you wish to allow employees to take extended leave or career breaks you should have a policy in place for extended leave/career breaks, eg where an employee wants a year away from work to get a qualification or spend time with their family.</p> <p>The policy should cover:</p> <ul> <li>how long the leave can last</li> <li>how the leave can be used</li> <li>how you will continue to communicate with the employee</li> <li>whether you can guarantee they will return to the same job</li> <li>what happens if a redundancy situation arises while they are away</li> <li>whether or not the time away will count towards their continuous employment or break the continuity of employment</li> <li>the application procedure, including the amount of notice the employee must give and how to appeal if you reject the request</li> <li>notice that is required advising of a return to work</li> </ul> <p>You should also be aware that an employee may make a request for a career break as part of a statutory request for flexible working. See <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="4ac715f4-fa3b-47e0-afd6-fc55285a9639" href="/content/flexible-working-law-and-best-practice" title="The law surrounding flexible working requests, the eligibility criteria and how to respond to a flexible working application">flexible working: the law and best practice</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" hreflang="en">Parental leave and time off for dependants</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/91Ïã½¶»ÆÉ«ÊÓÆµ-employee-work-life-balance" hreflang="en">Support employee work-life balance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/hr-documents-and-templates" hreflang="en">HR documents and templates</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/staff-pay" hreflang="en">Staff pay</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/time-work-personal-commitments-and-emergencies">/content/time-work-personal-commitments-and-emergencies</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11317" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Time off for public and judicial service and duties </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Time off rights for employees taking part in activities relating to public bodies and the legal system.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11017 clearfix"> <span id="section-11017"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Employees holding certain public positions are entitled to reasonable unpaid time off to perform their duties. These roles include:</p> <ul> <li>Lay Magistrate, sometimes known as a justice of the peace</li> <li>a member of a district council, the Northern Ireland Library Authority (Libraries NI), relevant health or education bodies, a policing and community safety partnership, or a district policing and community partnership</li> <li>member of any statutory tribunal, an environmental agency, or of the boards of prison visitors</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/time-public-duties" rel=" noopener" target="_blank" title="You have the right to time off for certain public duties and services | nidirect">Time off for public duties - nidirect guidance</a>.</p> <p>Employees can refer their complaint for determination by an industrial tribunal or statutory arbitration if they are unreasonably refused time off for public duties or dismissed for asserting the right to time off for public duties.</p> <h3>Jury service</h3> <p>You must not dismiss an employee or subject them to a detriment for having been summoned to participate in jury service.</p> <p>The employee would not need a year's continuous employment to lodge an unfair dismissal claim - and any such dismissal would be seen to be automatically unfair by an industrial tribunal.</p> <p>Employees are not protected against unfair dismissal if after you have told them you believe your business will be seriously harmed by their absence, they unreasonably refuse or fail to apply to have their jury service deferred or to be excused from it. Not all applications are granted, this is subject to a judicial decision.</p> <p>You do not have to pay staff while they are doing jury service, unless the employee's contract permits this. An employee who is not paid during absence from work on jury service may however claim compensation for loss of earnings from the court. This will require the employer to complete a certificate showing the employee's loss of earnings. An allowance sheet outlining the maximum amounts allowable for loss of earnings is handed out to the members of the jury pool on the first day of service. See <a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/going-court/jury-service" rel="noopener" target="_blank" title="Find out about jury service, including how jurors are selected, what jury duty involves and what to do if called up for jury service | nidirect">jury service - nidirect guidance</a>.</p> <p>To learn more about your responsibilities as an employer of a juror, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8b7bb20f-98d4-450b-8b86-5ea2603db83b" href="/content/information-employers-jurors" title="If you have an employee who has been selected to serve as a juror, it will have a significant effect on their ability to attend their place of work">information for employers of jurors</a>.</p> <h3>Lay Magistrate duty</h3> <p>You must allow employees who are lay magistrates time off to perform their duties.</p> <p>While you are not legally required to pay employees on lay magistrate service, many employers choose to do so.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/northern-ireland-court-service" hreflang="en">Northern Ireland Court Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: right and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/juryline-information">Juryline information | Department of Justice guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/staff-pay" hreflang="en">Staff pay</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/set-employment-policies-your-business" hreflang="en">Set up employment policies for your business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/flexible-working-law-and-best-practice" hreflang="en">Flexible working: the law and best practice</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/time-public-and-judicial-service-and-duties">/content/time-public-and-judicial-service-and-duties</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="15102" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Information for employers of jurors </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>If you have an employee who has been selected to serve as a juror, it will have a significant effect on their ability to attend their place of work.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-14802 clearfix"> <span id="section-14802"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>There is a statutory obligation for employers to allow jurors to attend court. If you have an employee who has been selected to serve as a juror, it may have a significant effect on their ability to attend their place of work.</p> <h3>Length of jury service</h3> <p>Jurors usually try the more serious criminal cases that are heard at the Crown Court, such as assault, burglary, fraud, or murder. Juries are also sometimes required at Coroner's Inquests. The majority of individual trials last only a few days, however, a typical jury can remain in place for up to four weeks (during this time, the same juror can be selected to sit on more than one trial).</p> <p>Some trials, however, can take weeks, or even months, to complete. It is difficult to estimate at the outset exactly how long each witness' evidence will last or what factors may delay or reduce the length of the trial and the estimated length can change at any stage. You should bear this in mind when making plans for staff cover during periods of absence because of jury service.</p> <p>The court will keep the jurors informed of the estimated length of the trial as it progresses. If at any time you have any queries you can contact the relevant court office. See <a href="https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/juryline-information" rel=" noopener" target="_blank" title="Here you will find up to date information on the jury service for each courthouse | Department of Justice">jury panel information from the Department of Justice</a>.</p> <h3>Jury selection</h3> <p>All jurors are selected entirely at random, from the initial selection of people from the electoral register through to the selection of the 12 jurors who form the jury. Usually, a panel of 15 to 18 potential jurors is taken to the court at the start of a trial from which the 12 jurors are selected.</p> <p>For a long trial, however, the trial judge may request a larger panel. Jurors will not be excused from jury service unless they have a valid reason. It is for the judge to decide whether there is a valid reason for excusal from jury service.</p> <h3>Contact with your employee during their jury service</h3> <p>There may be occasions during the course of the trial when the court is not sitting and the jurors are not required. Jurors are encouraged to keep in contact with their employers during such breaks, either by temporarily returning to work (if they are allowed to by their employer), or discussing with a colleague or manager anything work-related which has occurred in their absence. They are not allowed to discuss the details of the case with anyone.</p> <h3>Allowances</h3> <p>Jurors' allowances are set by law and the court has no discretion to exceed them. Allowances cannot be paid to anyone other than the juror. A claim form entitled 'Claim for Payment' is included with the summons for jury service. An information leaflet entitled 'Allowances for Jury Service' is handed out on the first day of service. You may also request a hard copy by contacting the Customer Service Centre on Tel 0300 200 7812 or you can read further details about <a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/claiming-juror-allowances" rel=" noopener" target="_blank" title="If you have been summoned to jury service, you can claim allowances for travel, meals or financial loss over the time you had to be at court | nidirect">claiming juror allowances</a>. Jurors can claim three types of allowance: travel; subsistence allowance; and financial loss.</p> <h4>Travel</h4> <p>Reimbursement of standard rate public transport fares, or a set mileage rate if the juror has to drive.</p> <h4>Subsistence allowance</h4> <p>An allowance of up to £5.71 if they are away from home / work over five hours but less than ten hours, or up to £12.17 if they are away from home for longer than ten hours. This meal allowance is only payable if a meal is not provided at public expense. Receipts for any meals bought in these circumstances must be provided and the juror can only claim for the amount spent up to the maximum of the appropriate allowance. Most courthouses provide jury lunches when required.</p> <h4>Financial loss (Including loss of earnings)</h4> <p>Financial loss, which incorporates any loss of earnings, reimburses any loss as a direct result of jury service up to daily maximum limits. The maximum payable doubles from the 11th day of jury service onwards. The maximum limits are for total financial loss so if, for example, a juror is claiming for loss of earnings and childcare on the same day then the maximum relates to the combined loss.</p> <p>The maximum rates are:</p> <h4>For the first ten days</h4> <ul> <li>For a period not exceeding four hours: £32.47</li> <li>For a period of more than four hours: £64.95</li> </ul> <h4>From the 11th day onwards</h4> <p>The maximum limit increases to £129.91 per day.</p> <p>The maximum limits are for combined/total financial loss to include:</p> <ul> <li>loss of earnings</li> <li>childcare</li> <li>National Insurance contributions</li> <li>pension contributions</li> </ul> <p>If a juror is not being fully paid whilst on jury service they can claim back any shortfall up to the daily maximum. If they are losing more than the maximum, the balance cannot be paid by the court.</p> <p>If a juror losing earnings wishes to claim financial loss, you as their employer must complete the 'Employer's Certificate' at the back of the claim form on the jury summons, certifying their net daily loss. If they do not earn the same rate each day then an average figure should be used.</p> <p>The court cannot reimburse loss of earnings without a valid 'Employer's Certificate'. Payment by the Courts and Tribunals Service is made to the juror and any arrangement for employers to recoup wages is a matter between the juror and their employer.</p> <h3>Employers topping up loss of earnings</h3> <p>Many employers with an employee on jury service will continue to pay them whilst on jury service. Other employers will not pay those employees entitled to full reimbursement by the court but will top up the loss for those losing more than the maximum.</p> <p>For example, if a juror earns £80.00 per day net, but can only claim £64.95 per day in the first ten days, the employer may pay the juror £15.05 net so they do not lose out.</p> <h3>National Insurance contributions whilst on jury service</h3> <p>Your employee may wish to make a National Insurance contribution for the weeks when they were not able to work because they were on jury service and claim it back under the financial loss allowance. This will apply if you do not pay them whilst they are on jury service or if any earnings they receive are less than the Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance contributions. This is £125 per week for the 2025-26 tax year.</p> <p>Even if they had lower earnings during the period of jury service, they may not need to be credited with contributions. Because employees' National Insurance contributions are earnings-related, it is possible to pay sufficient for the tax year to count towards future state pension entitlement in a much shorter period. They need only apply for contributions to be credited for periods of jury service to make up their record if they are told that they have a deficient record for the tax year in question, either when they make a claim for benefit in the future or they get a deficiency notice.</p> <h3>Pension contributions</h3> <p>If you are paying a contribution towards your employee's pension that ceases because they will not be working for you for a significant period of time due to their jury service, the loss of pension contributions can be covered by the financial loss allowance. Jurors will be required to provide proof of the contributions, and also proof that their employer is ceasing to pay these contributions during the period that the employee is on jury service. This is also subject to the maximum daily allowance threshold.</p> <p>It would be useful for you to talk to your employee about their pension scheme so that they understand whether and how payments will be made whilst they are on jury service and whether they need to account to you from the sums paid by the court as allowances (if any).</p> <p>The court can only pay allowances to the juror and not to any third party such as you as their employer. Therefore, if they are claiming their pension contributions under the financial loss allowance, they should remember that the allowance will be paid to them and it is their responsibility to pay the amount of contributions lost back to you. You and your employee should agree on the procedure for this.</p> <h3>Jurors employed by a recruitment agency</h3> <p>If you are a recruitment agency and one of your employees is called for jury service during a contract to work for an employer, you should fill out the 'Employer's Certificate', reflecting what they would have earned during their period of jury service. It will be necessary for you to state either in a separate letter or on the certificate when the contract is due to expire.</p> <p>If they are called for jury service just before they start a contract for work, they will have to provide evidence of that contract along with their daily net pay and the duration of the contract.</p> <p>If they are not working through your agency or they do not have a forthcoming contract, the court cannot pay any loss of earnings allowance.</p> <h3>Insurance</h3> <p>Some business insurance policies have provisions for losses incurred as a result of jury service. They can cover losses due to employees being called for jury service or may also cover any losses incurred as a result of rearranging a business trip. You should carefully read through your policy (if you have one) to check its terms.</p> <h3>The Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004</h3> <p>The Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Article 20) outlines employers' responsibilities when their employees are summonsed for jury service.</p> <p>The Order protects employees from any detriment that they might suffer as a result of jury service. This might occur if, for example, a juror was prevented from going back to the same job or was being excluded from pay awards or promotion opportunities as a result of their jury service. Some jobs require skills that need to be current, so an employer who insists on retraining after a long absence eg for safety reasons, may not necessarily be imposing a detriment.</p> <p>Protection is also given to employees against employers who unfairly dismiss them for performing jury service.</p> <h3>Further jury service</h3> <p>When a jury sits on a trial that the judge deems to have been particularly difficult or demanding for the jury, he has the discretion to give the jurors the right to be excused for as long a period as he thinks fit (this could even be for life), depending upon the circumstances. If they are excused at the end of a trial and are called again they should contact the court office.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/123" hreflang="en">Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/going-court/jury-service">Jury service | nidirect guidance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/time-public-and-judicial-service-and-duties" hreflang="en">Time off for public and judicial service and duties</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/information-employers-jurors">/content/information-employers-jurors</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11319" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Time off work for employees in the armed forces </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Supporting employees linked to the armed forces can benefit your business by promoting leadership skills.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11019 clearfix"> <span id="section-11019"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Employees who are in the Reserve Forces or Territorial Army may need time off for training. Reservists may even need time off if they are called up for military service.</p> <p>For more information, see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="afb438f8-1eb7-44f8-9630-d374a531a5cc" href="/content/employing-member-reserve-forces" title="How civilian organisations can benefit by employing Armed Forces Reservists">employing a member of the Reserve Forces</a> and what to expect <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e1e17aac-51e7-4b51-97c2-77252c15ca48" href="/content/if-reservist-employee-called-service" title="Employers' rights and responsibilities during and after Reservist mobilisation">if a Reservist employee is called up for service</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/employing-member-reserve-forces" hreflang="en">Employing a member of the Reserve Forces</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/if-reservist-employee-called-service" hreflang="en">If a Reservist employee is called up for service</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/staff-pay" hreflang="en">Staff pay</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/employment-contract" hreflang="en">The employment contract</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/time-work-employees-armed-forces">/content/time-work-employees-armed-forces</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="11320" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Advantages of managing your staff&#039;s time off work </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The benefits of allowing discretionary time off work, having a time-off policy and considering flexible working.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-11020 clearfix"> <span id="section-11020"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Allowing staff time off work has a number of benefits.</p> <p>However, you should ensure that you have a policy in place so you know how to deal with time-off requests.</p> <p>You might also want to consider allowing flexible working to further improve work-life balance, and you must consider requests from certain qualifying employees.</p> <h3>Advantages of allowing time off work</h3> <p>Agreeing to requests for time off for personal and family reasons - and paying them for this time off - can:</p> <ul> <li>improve staff retention/loyalty</li> <li>maintain or improve staff morale</li> <li>reduce the stress caused by a conflict between work and personal commitments</li> <li>help your staff see you as a fair employer</li> </ul> <p>Allowing staff to take time off for public duties and service can help them gain new skills and provide them with an opportunity for personal development.</p> <h3>Time-off work policies</h3> <p>It is good practice to have a policy on time off. This can help you deal with time-off requests fairly and consistently.</p> <p>The policy should cover the statutory time-off rights as well as situations where you may need to grant discretionary time off. Read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8f46054f-75fd-4996-97a8-595356f672f2" href="/content/time-work-personal-commitments-and-emergencies" title="An employees' right to unpaid time off to look after dependants in an emergency, discretionary and extended leave">time off work for personal commitments and emergencies</a>.</p> <p>Any policy should make it clear:</p> <ul> <li>whether or not discretionary leave will be paid</li> <li>how much notice the employee must give in order to qualify for the time off</li> <li>what you will do if you suspect an employee is taking the time off not for the reason they claimed</li> </ul> <p>You should ensure that staff are aware of the policy and notify them if it changes in any way.</p> <p>Make sure your policy is non-discriminatory, including the way you apply it.</p> <p>You should keep records of requests for time off and how much is taken, especially if it becomes unreasonable. Read more on <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="48daa459-c570-40c9-afff-bae083b3fbde" href="/content/staff-records" title="Your legal obligations relating to gathering, storing and using information on your workers">staff records</a>.</p> <h3>Flexible working</h3> <p>You can give employees more time away from work by allowing them to work flexibly.</p> <p>Certain employees have the right to request flexible working.</p> <p>In addition, you should consider allowing those who don't have the right to request flexible working to make such requests.</p> <p>See <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="4ac715f4-fa3b-47e0-afd6-fc55285a9639" href="/content/flexible-working-law-and-best-practice" title="The law surrounding flexible working requests, the eligibility criteria and how to respond to a flexible working application">flexible working: the law and best practice</a> and how to <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8aa33f6a-6977-4bf6-a746-515e6f7f661a" href="/content/91Ïã½¶»ÆÉ«ÊÓÆµ-employee-work-life-balance" title="How employers can promote healthy work-life balance and the benefits it can bring to your business and staff">promote healthy work-life balance in your business</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-developed field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Developed with</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">The Department for the Economy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">Labour Relations Agency</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-help field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Help</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/lra-workplace-information-service" hreflang="en">LRA Workplace Information Service</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Actions</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/information-note/time-rights-and-responsibilities">Time off: rights and responsibilities | LRA guidance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" hreflang="en">Parental leave and time off for dependants</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/91Ïã½¶»ÆÉ«ÊÓÆµ-employee-work-life-balance" hreflang="en">Support employee work-life balance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/employment-contract" hreflang="en">The employment contract</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/manage-absence-and-sickness" hreflang="en">Manage absence and sickness</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-primary-parent field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Primary parent</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/holiday-sickness-and-other-leave" hreflang="en">Holiday, sickness and other leave</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/advantages-managing-your-staffs-time-work">/content/advantages-managing-your-staffs-time-work</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> <li><div data-history-node-id="26001" class="node node--type-guide node--view-mode-pdf ds-1col clearfix"> <div id="print-content"> <h1> Paid and unpaid statutory time-off rights for workers </h1> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Information detailing whether you are legally obliged to pay an employee for time off.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-sections field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-legacy paragraph--view-mode-default ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col section section-23308 clearfix"> <span id="section-23308"></span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The table below shows whether you are legally obliged to pay an employee or worker for time off due to a particular reason.</p> <table style="width: 100%;" class="tablesaw tablesaw-stack" data-tablesaw-mode="stack" data-tablesaw-minimap> <tbody> </tbody> <thead> <tr> <th role="columnheader" data-tablesaw-priority="persist">Reason for the time off</th> <th role="columnheader">All workers or employees only?</th> <th role="columnheader">Statutory or discretionary?</th> <th role="columnheader">Must the time off be paid?</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p>Annual leave - 5.6 weeks</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Bank and public holidays *</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No, unless it is part of the minimum statutory annual leave entitlement</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Training/continuing education for 16-18 year olds</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Training to be, and working as, a representative of employee safety<strong> </strong></p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Training to be, and carrying out duties as, a pension scheme trustee<strong> </strong></p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Training for, and carrying out, trade union duties, including as a union learning and union safety representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out trade union activities</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Training for, and carrying out duties as, a union representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Accompanying a colleague at a disciplinary/grievance/<br> flexible working request</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out duties as an employee representative in a collective redundancy situation - including making arrangements to be elected and training as such a representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out duties as an employee representative in a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) transfer situation - including making arrangements to be elected and training as such a representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out duties as a negotiating representative or information and consultation representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Jobhunting/training when being made redundant</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out duties as a member of a special negotiating body or European works council, or an information and consultation representative - including making arrangements to be elected as such a member or representative</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Suspension from work on medical grounds</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes, for employees with at least one month's service, and for a maximum of six months</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Suspension from work on maternity grounds</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Emergencies involving a dependant</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Maternity leave (52 weeks)</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes (39 of the 52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria) **</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Paternity leave (single block of one or two consecutive weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria)</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes - subject to certain qualification criteria **</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Adoption leave (52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria)</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes (39 of the 52 weeks - subject to certain qualification criteria) **</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Parental leave (subject to certain qualification criteria)</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Parental bereavement leave</td> <td>Employees only</td> <td>Statutory</td> <td>Yes, subject to certain qualification criteria</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Antenatal care</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>Yes</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Compassionate leave, eg to attend the funeral of a non-dependant</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Visiting a sick relative</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Moving house</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Religious observance</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No - but avoid discrimination on the grounds of religion/belief</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Carrying out public duties, eg as a magistrate, school governor, or member of a local authority</p> </td> <td> <p>Employees only</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Jury service</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Statutory</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Territorial Army and reservist training</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Active duty as a reservist</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Extended leave/sabbatical</p> </td> <td> <p>All workers</p> </td> <td> <p>Discretionary</p> </td> <td> <p>No</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><br> * You must set out arrangements for working on public and bank holidays in each worker's written statement of employment particulars, including whether or not time off on such days will be paid or unpaid. See <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c3567650-804e-4b10-a502-425395d50755" href="/content/employment-contract" title="Understanding the basic elements of a contract of employment as required by law">the employment contract</a>.</p> <p>** You can claim most or all of this statutory payment back from HM Revenue and Customs - see <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="4983517a-325c-41e5-8ae7-0a80675dff71" href="/content/statutory-leave-and-pay-entitlements" title="Statutory leave and pay entitlements">statutory leave and pay entitlements</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-also-on-this-site field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Also on this site</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/allowing-time-work" hreflang="en">Allowing time off work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/know-how-much-holiday-give-your-staff" hreflang="en">Know how much holiday to give your staff</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/hours-rest-breaks-and-working-week" hreflang="en">Hours, rest breaks and the working week</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/content/parental-leave-and-time-dependants" hreflang="en">Parental leave and time off for dependants</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-content-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Content category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4" hreflang="en">Employment and skills</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <h3>Source URL</h3> <a href="/content/paid-and-unpaid-statutory-time-rights-workers">/content/paid-and-unpaid-statutory-time-rights-workers</a> <br /> <h3>Links</h3> <div id="print-output"> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-checklist-navigation view-id-checklist_navigation view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-441150520f0949bf0c5a4e20a1b96bf768fbb8e3bc064b25df4a8bd8004694f0"> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-eva view-printable-book-list view-id-printable_book_list view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-f2e27f6bf709ca6ffa62864b425a2b9bf0e6f4d162efadb149a418ab7af48550"> </div> </div> <div class="node_view"><ul class="pre_links"><li class="print"><a href="/node/15102/printable/print" target="_blank">Print</a></li></ul></div> Tue, 18 Feb 2014 11:29:20 +0000 kmcgowan 15102 at