Time Off to Vote
Election Day is
looming, and we are faced with the buzz of radio ads, phone calls, and television
commercials all vying for our attention, our votes, and to get us to the ballot
boxes. Yet, even though the poling locations are open from 7am to 8pm it does not
guarantee everyone will find the time to cast their ballot.
With that in
mind, it is often questioned if employees should be given time off to cast
their vote during the work day? The State of Michigan stands silent on laws
governing time off for employees to vote. Employees are not required nor
permitted, by law, any time off to cast their ballot. So the law does not
create voters’ rights, what about a sense of civic duty? Should employers grant
that time off anyway?
As someone who would like to see
a much higher rate of participation in the election process, I could be easily
drawn into that line of thinking. Yet, the economic hardship this could cause
to a business is real and must be balanced with its desire to support their employees’
civic duty. Even if it was made a national holiday to encourage participation,
it would not guarantee more voters, nor would it allow all people the same
opportunity as with many state holidays a large portion of the working
population is still punching a clock.
Since Michigan stands
silent, business owners are each given the opportunity to decide what works
best for their organization. Regardless of what each business decides, I hope
that the business owners and employees alike take the time, either during
working hours or on their personal time, to cast their vote in this year’s
election.
President & CEO of Michigan Insurance Group
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