Election day is only two days away and we get it: it’s an important election. But, as an employer, do you have to pay for it?
A lot of businesses are. For example, Crain’s reports that Michigan-based Commonwealth Heritage Group, an archeological and historic preservation consulting firm, will give its 110 employees in nine states the entire day off to carry out their civic duty. Outreach, a software startup based in Seattle is taking things one step further. The company has created its own holiday on 6 November for its employees, which it’s calling “Democracy Day”. Not only will work be optional, but those who come into the office will be able to quaff champagne, eat free food and (uh oh!) take part in political discussions.
“I wanted to honor the importance of the right and duty to vote and make it easy for all Outreachers to participate in what is a critical day of citizenship in our country,” the company’s CEO said in an email to employees, according to GeekWire. “You may even help a friend or peer vote for the very first time and talk through policies with them.”
Encouraging your employees to take part in political conversations while in the office might be a risky undertaking, given these divisive times. But “increasing voter awareness” has become a thing in corporate America this year.
In September, more than 135 companies such as Walmart, PayPal, Gap and Levi’s launched a “Time to Vote” campaign to increase awareness among other employers about the importance of giving their workers the opportunity to cast their ballot. Chip Bergh, the CEO of Levi Strauss & Co, wrote in Fortune that “as a CEO, if there’s something I can do to ensure our employees get a chance to stand up and be counted, I’m not going to hesitate.”
Some localities actually require that employers give their employees time off to vote. Workers in Arizona, California, Colorado and 27 other states are entitled to anywhere from two to three hours of paid time off to cast their ballots, assuming that the time is not available to them before or after work hours.
We all get it. Everyone knows how important it is to vote. We’re all aware that voter turnout in this country is extremely low, especially compared with other democracies. We understand that getting to the polls – regardless of how early or late they stay open – is a pain in the neck. But should an employer like myself have to be burdened with yet another cost so that our people can leave their work behind while they’re out at the polling station?
The answer is: yes, we should.
But this really isn’t about voting, is it? It’s about allowing employees time off to tend to personal matters that come up during the day – be it a sick child, an emergency dentist appointment, a broken-down car or a midterm election. There’s policy and then there’s reality, and most small and mid-sized business owners and managers I know ignore policy when real life happens. Of course you need a policy for paid time off to stop the 1% of employees who may abuse.
But for everyone else, there should be no need to be formal about it. As a boss, you should feel confident that your employees will find some way to make up any time lost. Why? Because if your employee is a good employee (and you’re a good boss) then he or she understands their responsibilities. So if your employee has to come into work an hour late or leave an hour early to cast a vote then just let it happen. It not only shows your respect for the democratic process but, more importantly, it shows your respect for them.
