Jury Service for Self Employed

[RabbitRabbit]

Hi,

I am self employed under a Limited Company and pay myself a fixed wage each month, plus dividends as and when I have the money.

In a couple of weeks i have to do Jury Service for minimum of two weeks (I have been told that if I get put on a case that will last longer I can asked to be excused)

I am trying to work out what the situation is with loss of earnings.

The documents I got from the court show I can claim back up to £64.95 and that as I'm self employed I need to provide a letter from my accountant to show how much I earn.

The bit I am confused about is....

As I am effectively an employ of (my own) limited company - should I pay myself for the two weeks I miss ?

How would affect the amount I claim back from the Court ?

I am a one man band and could potentially lose business by not being in the office for those two weeks. How does this affect any calculations

Things aren't helped by the fact I am in process of moving Accountants

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Newchodge]

For a start, you are not self employed. You are an employee of a limited company. If your employer (you) fails to pay your wages you can make a claim.

 

[TotallySport]

you can write to them an ask it be defered, as you a one man band and your business is reliant on you.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Say you are willing to do it over Xmas period when business is slack. They never work over Xmas so you never get called again.

 

[RabbitRabbit]

Thanks for replies.

@Newchodge Yes, you are right of course, I keep forgetting that

Unfortunately its too late to ask for a referral as I have already replied to them to say I can do it.

 

[templateagreements]

I have had the same problem before. If it's too late to ask for it to be deferred you could try explaining your situation to the judge if you get picked for a case (the judge will always ask if anyone has a reason why they can't be put on to a case at the beginning). A couple of people did that on the case I was on and they got sent home then discharged the next day.

In any case you can claim the statutory compensation that they provide for loss of earnings as long as you can proove that you actually pay yourself a salary (and show the amount). You can't claim for loss of company profits though. I should say from experience you will have loads of free time even if you are on a case as you most likely won't spend many hours during the day actually in court. The waiting room should have internet and you are allowed to use your laptop in there (if it's that type of business).

Hope you get put on to an interesting case!

 

[arcon5]

Can't you print yourself out some pay slips?