ARTICLE
14 October 2024

Employer Obligations During Provincial Elections

RG
Roper Greyell LLP – Employment and Labour Lawyers

Contributor

Roper Greyell LLP is one of the most well-respected and recognized workplace law practices in Canada. Our clients benefit from a team of 37 diverse and talented lawyers who are committed to providing them with the highest quality legal representation and strategic counsel in all areas of workplace law.
This bulletin provides a brief overview of employer obligations to employees during advanced voting and on the final voting day.
Canada Employment and HR

A provincial election has been called in British Columbia.

This bulletin provides a brief overview of employer obligations to employees during advanced voting and on the final voting day.

Here are the key dates:

  • Advanced voting days: October 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, 2024
  • Final voting day: October 19, 2024

All employees who are eligible voters are entitled to up to four (4) consecutive hours off work:

  • while polls are open on the final voting day for the purpose of casting their ballot
  • while polls are open during advanced voting if:
    • the employee's schedule on the final voting day would not allow him/her/they to have four (4) consecutive hours off work while the polls are open
      and
    • the employee is willing to vote in advanced voting

Important:

  • An eligible voter is a Canadian citizen who will be at least 18 years of age on the final voting day and has been a resident of B.C. since April 18, 2024.
  • Employees are entitled to up to four (4) consecutive hours free from work during voting hours. This is not an employer obligation to provide four (4) consecutive hours free from work generally.

Employees who take time off work for the purpose of casting their ballot are entitled to do so without loss of pay. An employer is not permitted to make any deduction from an employee's pay because he or she took time off work to vote.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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