Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

VolunteeringLatest NewsCareer developmentLearning & development

Survey highlights business benefits of employing magistrates

by Ashleigh Webber 3 Mar 2022
by Ashleigh Webber 3 Mar 2022 William Barton / Shutterstock.com
William Barton / Shutterstock.com

Sound judgement and effective decision-making are among the top qualities that HR and recruitment leaders see in people who volunteer as magistrates, research has shown.

A Ministry of Justice-commissioned survey found that many organisations feel encouraging employees to volunteer as magistrates is an effective way for employers to give back to society, and help employees develop skills that can be beneficial to their business.

The MoJ recently launched a recruitment drive for 4,000 more magistrates across England and Wales.

It claimed that the voluntary role can easily be fulfilled along full-time employment; magistrates are expected to appear in court for a minimum of 13 days per year for at least five years, and will undergo training that can be completed on weekends.

Of the 515 recruitment or staffing decision-makers polled by YouGov, 89% say employees who volunteer as magistrates display sound judgement, while 81% say they are effective decision-makers.

Voluntary work

Are employees entitled to take time off to perform voluntary work for a public organisation such as a school, hostel or hospital?

Are magistrates entitled to time off work to carry out their public duties?

The MoJ said magistrates are also trained to develop skills that can be applied in a business setting, such as critical analysis, complex problem solving, mediation and influencing.

Respondents agreed the potential business benefits of having magistrates among the workforce include the ability for organisations to show a commitment to local communities (43%) and to demonstrate their “social conscience” (41%).

However, the MoJ is concerned that misconceptions about magistracy are preventing employers from encouraging and permitting staff to sign up. Only two-thirds of HR and recruitment leaders know what a magistrate does, and more than half (56%) wrongly believe they are required in court for more than 13 days per year.

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, employers must permit employees who are magistrates to take time off during working hours to perform their duties. The amount of time off they are entitled to is not unlimited; the Act says that it is limited to whatever is reasonable, taking into account how much time off the employer has already allowed them to take off; the circumstances of the employer’s business; and the effect of the magistrate’s absence on the business.

It is at the employer’s discretion whether leave for magistracy duties this is paid or unpaid, but many employers grant paid time off for at least some of a magistrate’s sitting days, the MoJ said.

Encouraging our employees to become magistrates means they gain insight into local community issues and valuable new skills to boost their career with us.” – Sarah Findlater, M&S

Deputy prime minister and justice secretary Dominic Raab said: “Encouraging your employees to fulfil the vital voluntary role of a magistrate is not only a powerful way to show your commitment to them and your local community but it makes good business sense.

“Magistrates enjoy excellent training and develop a wide range of highly valued skills that can help to boost their career and your business. Supporting volunteer magistrates can help you attract and retain talent whilst delivering improved job satisfaction.

“We are calling on employers to back this recruitment drive for more magistrates – it’s good for your people, your organisation and your community. Your support will help enable magistrates to play an even greater role in serving swift justice for our society.”

Marks & Spencer and BAE Systems are among the employers that have supported staff to become magistrates.

M&S HR director Sarah Findlater said: “At M&S, we take pride in supporting the communities we serve. Encouraging our employees to become magistrates means they gain insight into local community issues and valuable new skills to boost their career with us. We would encourage all employers to provide time for people to act as magistrates as it gives back to society, supports colleague development and is good for business.”

Janet Garner, BAE Systems’ head of HR and skills and academy principal, said allowing staff to take time off for this type of public service volunteering provides “a unique opportunity to develop their skills, experience and knowledge which helps their career development”.

HR business partner opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more HR business partner jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Employee Trends 2022 report
next post
CPD: Leadership – a specialist’s second skill set

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Ukraine invasion: a talent acquisition consultant shares her...

22 Mar 2022

Ministry of Justice seeks 4,000 more magistrates

24 Jan 2022

Personnel Today Awards 2021: Biffa scoops People and...

16 Nov 2021

What does purposeful business mean for HR?

26 May 2021

Vaccine volunteers face “overload of bureaucracy” to support...

4 Jan 2021

Matt Hancock supports military-style reservists system for NHS

23 Nov 2020

Why the time is right to consider staff...

30 Sep 2020

Volunteer projects ‘better for skills development than another...

18 Sep 2020

Don’t switch off employee volunteering schemes this summer

8 Jul 2020

Rail workers critical of plans for face mask...

5 Jun 2020
  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more
  • Preventing Burnout: How can HR help key workers get the right help? PROMOTED | Workplace wellbeing may seem a distant memory...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+