10-29-2024
Fast Company reports that an increasing number of employers are taking steps to support their employees' civic duty to vote. More than a fad, the article asserts these steps reflect a shift in how companies see their role. This shift may result from several factors, including employee expectations, brand considerations, and a growing link between employee satisfaction and civic engagement. Millennials and Gen Zers consider corporate social responsibility when making job choices. Companies see these policies as improving employee engagement and retention, creating a positive brand reputation with younger generations, and increasing employee productivity.
A marketing and advertising agency told the publication that offering time off to vote gives younger workers, in particular, the time to carefully think about how they want to vote and the impact their votes have in their lives on a personal level.
Twenty states require paid time off to vote (National Conference of State Legislatures). Many companies choose to pay their employees for time off to vote even if state law does not require it. A non-partisan group, Time to Vote, lists over 2,000 companies that offer time off to vote, including Coca-Cola, Google, Lululemon, Visa, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo. Patagonia, Levi Strauss & co., and PayPal created the initiative to encourage voting. Some businesses share information about early voting and vote-by-mail options, offer paid time off on Election Day, or keep the workday free to allow employees time to vote. Gap goes further by hosting educational sessions with Republican and Democratic strategists and offering an online portal with information about voting. It also gives employees wellness resources to cope with the stress of political tensions. Nextdoor allows U.S. employees to volunteer at local polling stations without using PTO.