In my state (Massachusetts), the polls open at 7am and close at 8pm, so anyone working a regular 9-5 job could reasonably expect to vote before or after work. But what about an employee scheduled for a double shift? Or someone whose commute was such that he'd miss voting hours?
Turns out there are rules in place to ensure that employees can vote. This excerpt from Inc.com explains how it works:
While there are no federal laws requiring companies to give time off from work to vote, a majority of states do have rules designed to ensure employees can make it to the polls on Election Day.Regardless of the rules governing your state (you can find them, by the way, through your state's Election Division website), it's always a good idea to check with your employer if you're going to need time off to vote.Laws vary by state, but if polls are not open two or three hours outside employees' regular shifts, employers are generally required to provide them with reasonable time off to vote. Lunch and other rest periods may not be included as part of the time off for voting.
The state laws are designed to ensure employees are not disciplined or retaliated against for taking time off to vote. Many states also require that companies pay employees for time they are absent while voting.
It might not be okay to talk about politics at work, but don't let your time card stop you from doing your civic duty!
4 comments:
So not to be a cranky Gen X/Y, but why not get up early and vote before work? I was at the polls at 7am to get into work for an 8am meeting and then still made it to class after work. People need to learn how to multi-task and set their alarm early.
Thanks for your comment, cranky. I'd agree that you have to take responsibility for balancing your civic duties with your professional obligations. Missing an important 8am meeting would probably be a bad call, even if you were at the polls.
I also agree that you have to strike a balance between your professional and civic obligations, but I absolutely think that it's acceptable to step out of the office for a few minutes to vote if necessary--it only happens once a year, after all. If, for any reason, a person can't manage to vote before or after work (a single mother with three kids, for example) a responsible employer should be understanding and supportive of their employees' right to participate in an election.
Agreed, rebecca. We live in a democracy after all! Thanks for your comment.
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