Judge warns employers they must pay staff on jury duty

A head lice removal company faces unlimited fines and prison time if it does not agree to pay an employee while she sits on a jury.

At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, the employee, who had previously been sworn in to serve on a jury for a three day sexual assault trial, told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy her employers said they could not pay her during the trial.

She also told the court that she was worried about being replaced if she missed work.

The court heard the woman was one of only two people who could operate a certain machine.

“I’m happy to serve but I fear I may lose my job,” she told Mr Justice McCarthy.

The judge said it was a criminal offence for an employer not to pay a worker during jury service and that he had unlimited powers of fines and imprisonment.

He told the juror she could excuse herself if she was very concerned. But the woman said she still wanted to serve. Mr Justice McCarthy said he will have his registrar contact the company over the matter.