(1) In this section and section 53, "employee" does not include an independent contractor.
(2) Despite any inconsistent term in a contract of employment, an employee who has been summoned for jury service and who has attended court, whether or not he or she has actually served on a jury, is entitled to be reimbursed by his or her employer an amount equal to the difference between the amount of remuneration paid under section 51 and the amount that he or she could reasonably expect to have received from the employer as earnings for that period had he or she not been performing jury service.