Judge Is Out Of Order

Contrary to what Judge Arthur Tompkins thinks, there is no obligation whatsoever for employers to pay staff while they are on jury service, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"Judge Tompkins has no authority to say employers must pay staff for jury service," said Peter Tritt, EMA's manager of Employment Relations.

"The judge is out of order when he told a Whangarei businessman that he could be held in contempt of court for not paying his staff while they were on jury service.

"Funding the administration of justice is not an employer responsibility.

"If employment contracts or agreements include jury allowances they will be paid for the time off work, but many employers don't include them.

"The miserly fees for jury service are the real problem."

Further comment: Peter Tritt tel 09 367 0921

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