Employers to fund jury duty challenge

Two business lobby groups are backing a Whangarei employer's High Court challenge over pay obligations to workers serving on juries.

Harry Clyde, the owner of a vehicle testing station, is challenging a ruling by District Court Judge Arthur Tompkins.

Supporting the businessman are Business New Zealand and the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

Mr Clyde was called to the Whangarei District Court a month ago and asked to explain why his business did not top up the shortfall between fees paid to jurors and normal wages for his staff.

An employee of the testing station had told the court it would cost her to serve on a jury because Mr Clyde would not pay her while she was serving on a jury.

Judge Tompkins, in an oral ruling, said that it was incumbent on employers "to avoid imposing direct or indirect financial penalties on their employees" when they were called to serve on juries.

He said it may amount to a contempt of court for an employer to impose such a penalty.

Employers and Manufacturers Association Northland manager Murray Broadbelt said the judge's ruling had left employers concerned they might face a contempt charge if they failed to top up employee wages while staff were on juries.

The association sought funding from Business New Zealand to help Mr Clyde challenge the ruling in the High Court.

Mr Broadbelt would not say how much had been sought from Business New Zealand or how much had been granted.

A partner in law firm Russell McVeagh's employment law team, Phil Skelton, will represent Mr Clyde.

A date for the High Court hearing has yet to be set.