Remember to Give Employees Time Off to Vote

Election Day 2018
An employee may take up to two hours of working time to vote without loss of pay.

The general election is November 6, 2018. And because employers must display a poster describing voting leave requirements at least 10 days before every statewide election, yours should have been up as of Friday, October 26.

California polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but if an employee doesn’t have sufficient time outside of his/her working hours to vote in this statewide election, the employee may take up to two hours of working time to vote without loss of pay. If the employee needs more than two hours to vote, he/she can take it — but only two hours of that time is paid. You cannot require that the employee use his/her accrued vacation or paid time off.​

The time off must be taken at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever gives the employee the most free time for voting and the least time off from working. You and the employee may mutually agree to a different part of the working shift when the time off can be taken. The employee must notify you at least two working days in advance to arrange a voting time.

Employers interested in learning how to communicate with employees about issues, regulations, legislation or ballot measures that will have an impact on the workplace, jobs, the economy and the employees themselves can review this CalChamber brochure.

CalChamber’s convenient all-in-one California and Federal Employment Notices Poster contains all required California and Federal notices including the Time Off to Vote notice.

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