So, if you’re an independent contractor and you work for one particular company, and you get jury duty, and you’re filling out the questionnaire online, and you get to the part about employer information, do you put self-employed, or the company’s info?
Anybody know?
Years ago, I wrote in “Independent contractor, working for Company X…”. Then when I spoke to them on the phone, they gave me a waiver because of ‘financial hardship’, since my contract did not pay me for jury duty. They asked how long the contract was for, and said they would reschedule me for after that contract was over. (Or maybe they said they would put me back in the pool after that contract.) Whatever, I never got called again.
Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for your speedy help!
It’s not like it matters much, because unless your county pays more than mine ($15 a day), you might as well just tell them who your employer is regardless of whether or not you get paid by them for your time serving jury duty. I guess it could suck if you get selected for a really long trial, though if you do, you could always tell the judge during jury selection that a long trial would be an undue burden based on you being an independent contractor.
I’m sure it varies based on local laws, but as it was explained to me when I had jury duty the other day, another factor is whether or not the business you work for does business in the same county as the jury duty. If they don’t, they aren’t required to pay your wages and you get whatever meager amount jury duty pays.
They’re not required to pay wages for jury duty here, and I’m the only one at my job that does what I do, so I am going to have to ask to be excused anyway. Which is unfortunate, because I am one of the few people that don’t mind jury duty and would be happy to do it if it didn’t cause a hardship for me or my employer.