The Canada Elections Act, Section 132 ensures that every employee who is an elector is entitled, during voting hours on polling day, to have three consecutive hours to vote. Here’s the official wording in Alberta’s Election Act: 132(1) An employee who is an elector qualified to vote shall, while the polls are open on polling day at an election or plebiscite, be allowed 3 consecutive hours for the purpose of casting the employee’s vote. Print Article Save to my Resources Share this Article × Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Employers cannot impose a penalty or deduct pay from an employee who is taking time off to vote according to Alberta’s Election Act. To accommodate this, your employer could allow you to arrive late (at noon), let you leave early (at 5 pm), or give you three consecutive hours off at some point during the workday. Sign in Join now. That call centre will be open from 8:15 a.m. until 8 p.m. MT on voting day. For more information, please refer to the. As a supervisor, if an employee's regular work schedule does not already allow for three consecutive hours to vote, please ensure appropriate arrangements are made to ensure employees are provided the opportunity for time off as prescribed by the legislation. Get tips and find out what you need to know about Alberta Time Off to Vote when creating your BC employee handbook If your hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours to vote, your employer must give you time off to do so. The time off to vote cannot be provided without interfering with the transportation service. 2-60 University Terrace 8303 112 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 1K4. (3) No employer may make any deduction from the pay of an employee or impose on or exact from the employee any penalty by reason of the employee’s absence from employment during the 3 consecutive hours referred to in subsection(1) or additional time granted under subsection (2). To provide these employees with the required hours, you could allow them to arrive late (at 12:30 p.m.), leave early (at 6:30 p.m.) or give them three hours off sometime during the day. © 2020 Canadian Federation of Independent Business. In such a case, the employer must only give additional time off to fulfill the consecutive hours requirement. Go to website Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive content, contests, and perks direct to you. Please note that, for employers in the transportation industry, the obligation to provide three consecutive hours off to vote does not apply if the following four conditions are met: Each province has the power to set its own election rules. An employee must be paid what he or she would have earned during the time they were voting. The Canada Elections Act, Section 132 ensures that every employee who is an elector is entitled, during voting hours on polling day, to have three consecutive hours to vote. We are located on Treaty 6 / Métis Territory. And three hours should be enough time, even if there are long lines at the polls. The Canadian federal election is Monday October 21, 2019. Summer Student Temporary Employment Programs, Employment, Benefits & Pay Administration, Elections Canada Frequently Asked Questions. Any eligible voter must have a certain number of consecutive hours to exercise their right to vote on an election day. Here are each province and territory’s requirements: Topics in this Article: Human ResourcesEmployment StandardsHuman Resources A to ZManagingRunning Your BusinessElections. Please sign in or join today. For example, if you live in a riding where polling offices are open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and some of your employees are regularly scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., they do not have three consecutive hours for voting. University of Alberta 116 St. and 85 Ave.. We are located on Treaty 6 / Métis Territory. But even if you’re working a long day, you’re still legally allowed to go and vote. An employee must be paid what he or she would have earned during the time they were voting. Am I required to give my employees time off to vote? For example, if you live in a riding where voting hours are 9 am to 8 pm and you usually work from 11 am to 7 pm, your hours of work will not allow three consecutive hours for voting. You could either receive two hours in the morning (9 am until 12 pm), or one hour in the evening (5 pm until 8 pm). Employers can provide less than three hours off work if an employee’s schedule already leaves them some free time during polling hours. See Live Election Results. Post Date: April 5, 2018. As an employer, you have the right to decide when the time off will be given. You need to be a member to save resources. Employers cannot impose a penalty or deduct pay from an employee who is taking time off to vote according to Alberta’s Election Act. An employer has the right to … All Rights Reserved. Topics in this Article: Regulatory Compliance.