Federal Elections and Employer Obligations for Time Off to Vote

Posted on: October 17 2019

The Federal Election will be taking place on Monday, October 21, 2019!
If you have not already done so, we encourage all eligible voters to get out and CAST YOUR BALLOT!

 

As an employer, do you know and understand the requirements for time off for voting?

According to Elections Canada:

By law, everyone who is eligible to vote must have 3 consecutive hours to cast their vote on election day and if a worker's hours of work do not allow for 3 consecutive hours to vote then their employer must give them time off. This could mean an employer allowing a worker to:

• arrive an hour or two late (to allow 3 consecutive hours before work)
• or leave an hour or two early (to allow 3 consecutive hours after work)
• or giving three hours off at some point during the work day, so long as in total the worker is able to have 3 consecutive hours to cast their vote

The employer has the right to decide when the time off will be given. This law applies to all employers with the exception of the transportation industry where the above rule may not apply. 

Under the Canada Elections Act, a worker must be paid what they would have earned during the time off for working. For more information and examples including the exception for the transportation industry, visit the Elections Canada frequently asked questions about time off to vote.