Primary Election Day: What Employers Need to Know
Employers have posting obligations for statewide elections.
Today is the last day to register to vote in the June primary. The California Presidential Primary Election is on June 5, 2018. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Your employees may take time away from work to vote, and employers have posting obligations.
This year, five counties in Northern California will be holding elections under a new model where voters can choose how, when and where to cast their ballots. Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento and San Mateo counties will mail every voter a ballot, expand in-person early voting and allow voters to cast a ballot at any vote center within their county.
Time Off to Vote
If an employee does not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote in a statewide election, the employee may, without loss of pay, take up to two hours of working time to vote. 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.
Posting Obligations
Employers must display a poster describing voting leave requirements at least 10 days before every statewide election. For information on the voting leave poster, and all required posters and notices, see the Required Posters for the Workplace on HRCalifornia.
Sharing Information With Employees
Employers are within their rights 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.
But employers may not take certain actions: no paycheck stuffers; no coercion; no rewarding or punishing employees (or threatening to do so) for their political activities or beliefs.
CalChamber prepared this brochure to provide more guidelines for employers on political communications to employees. Note the distinction between internal communications (to employees, stockholders and their families) and communications to external audiences (such as non-stockholder retirees, outside vendors, customers or passersby).
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. CalChamber members can read more about Voting Leave Explained in the HR Library. Not a member? See how CalChamber can help you.
Source: CalChamber