Time off for public duties

You can take time off for public duties, for example as a magistrate, school governor or trade union member. 

You are entitled to paid time off work for certain public duties as well as your normal holiday entitlement.  

All employees are allowed to take time off for jury service.

Who qualifies for time off 

You can get a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off for roles including: 

• magistrates  
• Local Authority elected members (not Essex County Council)  
• members of a police authority 
• school governors or other members of managing or governing bodies of educational institutions 
• trade union members (for trade union duties) 
• lay observers (criminal justice) and visiting committee members (immigration and detention) 

Read a full list of public duty roles that you can receive paid time off for on GOV.UK. 

How much time off you can take 

You can take a reasonable amount of paid leave per year for your public duties.  

For some roles, such as a school governor, this would normally be a few days, a magistrate would usually be allowed 13 days (or 26 half days), whilst other public roles that require a greater time commitment may be permitted up to 20 days.

For public roles with a far greater number of duties, for example as a chairman of a governing body, you may be allowed up to 26 days' leave.  

For part-time employees, paid leave is provided on a pro rata basis. 

Booking time off  

Tell your line manager as soon as you can if you need to take time off for public duties.  

Your time off must be agreed with your line manager in advance. Your request may be refused if the amount of time off requested is not considered reasonable or if it may negatively impact service delivery.

Once agreed, you should book your time off in My Oracle under ‘other paid leave’. Then choose the ‘public body service’ option.