With Election Day looming, New York employers are reminded to post a notice setting forth their employees' voting rights and are encouraged to include a reference to these rights in their employee handbooks as well. In accordance with the New York State Election Law, employees may take up to two hours at the beginning or end of their shift, with pay, to vote if they do not have sufficient time outside of their work hours. Sufficient time is defined as four consecutive hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of an employee's shift or between the end of an employee's shift and the closing of the polls. Employers are required to post a notice setting forth these rights at least 10 days prior to every election. Therefore, New York employers are advised to post the notice in a conspicuous place immediately, if they have not already done so. The full text of the law and a sample poster are available at http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/AttentionEmployees.pdf
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