LOS ANGELES Calif. – When it comes to Election Day, more companies are encouraging employees to vote by offering paid time off. Emma Feeney, who recently moved from New York to Los Angeles, says that’s a vast change from when she voted in the 2016 election. 

What You Need To Know

  • In CA, employers are legally obliged to provide two hours of paid time off for voting

  • In this election cycle, many are providing more — even giving employees an entire paid day off

  • Old Navy is giving employees paid time off to work as poll workers

  • Election Day is not a federal holiday in the U.S. but some employers are encouraging workers to take a lighter workload that day

“At my past company, during the last election, we had two hours off to go vote and I think now, even if it wasn’t during quarantine, that would change because people know that it takes longer than two hours to vote,” Feeney said.

During his election, Feeney works at a consumer products company that’s giving employees a paid day off on Election Day and encouraging employees to take a lighter workload on the days following the election. Feeney says group therapy sessions will also be offered for mental health post-election.

“I guess it’s to be determined whether I’ll be using them,” Feeney said. “The outcome of the election is really what will inform what my mental state will be at that time.”

In California, employers are legally required to provide up to two hours of paid time off for voting but hundreds of companies are offering more this year. Old Navy is giving employees paid time off to serve as poll workers on Election Day. Gap, Coca-Cola and Twitter are among some companies offering an entire paid day off.

It’s a trend Feeney’s roommate, Betsie Wilson, notices too. She works for a media company giving employees a paid day off to vote or work at the polls. She really appreciates it given the tumultuous year.

“I definitely think this year has been a unique year both in terms of this election being considered pretty contentious by a lot of people and the fact that it’s been like this weird work from home environment,” Wilson said.

Similar to Feeney’s workplace, Wilson says her employer encouraged her to avoid scheduling critical meetings around Election Day so workers can focus on what is happening at the polls.

“I don’t currently have any meetings for either the 3rd or 4th and I’ll definitely try to keep it that way if possible,” Wilson said.

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Since Election Day isn’t a federal holiday, both women aren’t surprised to see a growing trend among companies giving employees more flexibility on November 3.

“I think it’s just a general consensus that we see across the U.S. that voting matters,” Feeney said. “Companies need to be in support of that or else I think a lot of them would be against the values they portray.”

Both Feeney and Betsie already mailed in their ballots but they plan to take a lighter workload on Election Day so they can see what happens at the polls.