Anyone between the ages of 18 and 71 can be randomly selected from the electoral register to serve for a minimum of 10 days – it’ll rarely be shorter – deciding the potential future liberty of people who are facing criminal trials.
Crown courts hear the worst examples of what humans are capable of. Nothing fully prepared me for the stress of being a juror – even my 4.5 years experience as a journalist covering everything from gruesome murders to child abuse.
Read more: Employees not paid for jury service
The brutality of it all hits you on joining the daily queue to be searched entering the court building, and intensifies when you realise you’ve temporarily lost your own freedom as a long list of very serious rules are barked out by a dragon-esque jury officer. Even toilet breaks feel risky in case your name is called on the loudspeaker while you’re gone.
My adrenaline was sky-high, all day. I found it truly exhausting. Any plans to work on my laptop while I waited on the world’s most uncomfortable chair, elbow to elbow with 100 others, went quickly out the window.
If you’re expecting employees to log on while on jury service, including in the evenings, I urge you to reconsider. Instead, support them by reallocating their work in advance.
If you have mental health benefits, signpost these benefits in advance, and encourage people to pre-book sessions. Mental health provision is not automatically offered to jurors.
Only people who are under active section are exempt from jury service; people living with mental and physical health conditions who are not actively sectioned, still have to serve.
As someone living with multiple conditions, including bipolar disorder type 2 and fibromyalgia, I was horrified when disclosing this to be met with “You’ve got everything!” before I was sent back to the waiting room. Luckily, I can access support through the benefits Reward Gateway Edenred offers internal employees.
Evidence presented in trials can be incredibly distressing, including CCTV or videos of the alleged offences, which jurors watch multiple times. Jurors then deliver a verdict and are flung back out into the world, sometimes alongside the defendant, their supporters and the victims.
In my case, the day prior to delivering our verdict, the defendant and their family walked past me at the bus stop on my way home, which was intimidating and isn’t uncommon. There’s no protection.
Your name is read out in court to the defendant. You are fully visible and often feel eyes from the public gallery on you, especially when the prosecution and defence deliver their closing statements. I found it terrifying.
Read more: The cost of neglecting mental health in the workplace
When in court, phones must be switched off. During deliberations, which can last for days, phones are confiscated entirely, and you’re confined to the retirement room. Don’t expect responses to anything.
If all that didn’t sound stressful enough, here’s the kicker – jurors can claim up to £64.95 per day for loss of earnings and childcare, £5.71 for food, plus travel costs. That’s it. If you can afford to pay people, please do.
There was a woman on a six-week trial whose employer wasn't paying her. She was terrified of losing her home. She had no savings, being a low earner, and no help.
While carrying the weight of an incredibly important civic duty and responsibility to make a fair decision, her mind was no doubt wandering elsewhere.
So, next time someone you know is summoned, instead of saying: “Ooh I hope it’s a juicy case!” ask if they’re OK.
Charlotte Neal is head of community connections at Reward Gateway Edenred
