The Time is NOW - Post Your Time Off to Vote Notice

California State elections are fast approaching; make sure you are in compliance with California Elections Code section 14001 by proactively communicating and making arrangements for your employees to vote Tuesday, November 8th.  

The intent of the law is to provide an opportunity for all workers to have the right to be heard through the casting of a ballot, whereas they may not be able to do so because of the hourly restrictions of their jobs.

Time off to Vote requires employers to provide employees as much time as they need in order to vote, but only a maximum of two hours is paid, only if they do not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote. 

What Do I Need to Do? 

Employers are required to post the employee Time Off to Vote Notice 10 days before a statewide election, which is no later than Saturday, October 29th. Visit the California Secretary of State Website to download your sample notice. 

The notice must be posted either in the workplace or where it can be seen by employees as they enter or exit their place of work. 

If you have a hybrid or remote workforce, make sure you email your employees the notice, create a pop-up notice when they log into work, or create a SharePoint or Google Form to ensure they saw the notice and you are in compliance.  

As an Employer, What control do I Have?   

You may have more control than you think.  As an employer, you have the right to create a plan that not only supports your organization but protects and supports your employee’s right to vote.  

Start off by making sure your employees know their rights and the process for requesting time off; you may require employees to give advance notice if they are seeking additional time off to vote.  

Awareness allows you to begin a conversation with your employees; you may require time off to be taken only at the beginning or end of the employee's shift to allow for easier coverage.  

Want to Enhance your Employee Experience?  

Don’t just settle for a simple posting notice; encourage your employees to vote.  Use this opportunity to speak to your employees about this shared experience and how you plan to support voting at your organization.  Not sure how to communicate your plan, use this template below to help you get started.  

Example Communication - 

At <insert company name>, we respect and value our differences.  We know our employees come from different backgrounds, have had different experiences, and view work and life through different lenses.  We want to encourage our employees to take those unique experiences and make their thoughts and opinions count by casting a ballot on Tuesday, November 8th, at the state-wide election.  We do not want to give any employee – an excuse not to vote because they don’t have time and are worried about their pay.  Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you need additional time off for voting, please get in touch with your immediate supervisor or the Human Resources department at least two days before November 8th to discuss how we can best support you on Election Day.    

 To view the Time Off to Vote notice.  Click HERE