Election Day is fast approaching; do you have to give employees paid time off to vote?
Like most labor laws, it is all dependent upon the state your employee works in. And according to the United States Election Project, a whopping 37% of the population lives in a state that does not have Election Day as a public holiday and does not require employers to provide paid time off for voting.
Election Day, which is noted to be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, serves as a very important function in maintaining our citizens’ role in democracy. Being prepared to manage the expectations of the day can assist employers in making this duty easy to fulfill.
Some states, like Georgia and Tennessee, employees must be allowed two consecutive hours to vote, however, these states don’t require employers to give paid time off to vote. States like New York and Maryland, however, require employees to be paid for their absence when voting. Even in these instances, there are exceptions to the law.
Several states, like Florida, Indiana, Maine, Vermont, and more, don’t have any statutes pertaining to Voting Leave for employees.
If you process payroll for employees, which is anyone receiving a W2 for wages paid, it’s important to keep up to date with federal and state laws that pertain to how time off is accounted for in wages.
Do you need help keeping up with payroll related regulations for your employees? Are you providing your employees with the proper time off to vote? Are you required to provide paid time off to vote? A certified bookkeeper can answer these questions.
Contact us today for a consultation.
Do I have to give employees paid time off to vote?
