Giving staff time off for magistrate duty

You must, by law, allow an employee who is a magistrate reasonable time off work to carry out their duties.

Your employee will have to be in court at least 13 days, or 26 half-days a year.

They’ll get their magistrate rota well in advance, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan and agree the time off.

You don’t have to pay employees for their magistrate work, but many employers do.

If you don’t pay them, they can claim an allowance from the court for loss of earnings.

Scotland

You must give time off to an employee who is a Justice of the Peace in Scotland.