Apple Providing U.S. Employees With Up to Four Hours Paid Time Off to Vote in November Election

[MacRumors]

Apple is providing all of its employees in the United States with up to four hours of paid time off to vote in the election that will take place on Tuesday, November 3, reports Bloomberg.

Apple today sent out a memo to employees announcing the policy, which applies to retail employees and hourly workers.

"For retail team members and hourly workers across the company, if you're scheduled to work this Election Day, we'll be providing up to four hours of paid time off if you need it to get to the polls," Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of retail and people, told staff. "If they choose, our teams can also use this time to volunteer as an election worker at one of your local polling stations."

Apple says that employees can also use their time off to volunteer as an election worker at their local polling stations.

Other tech companies like Twitter, Uber, and Lyft, are providing employees with time off for voting, as are many other major companies with a full list available on the Time to Vote website.

Article Link: Apple Providing U.S. Employees With Up to Four Hours Paid Time Off to Vote in November Election

 

[Apple_Robert]

That is very nice of Apple. I like it.

 

[I7guy]

That is very nice of Apple. I like it.

It’s the right thing to do for all employers.

 

[mozumder]

Need this everywhere.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It’s the right thing to do for all employers.

Morally speaking, I agree. Legally speaking, employers don’t have to pay employees to take time to vote. They are only obligated to allow the time off.

 

[TonyC28]

Pretty cool of Apple. Just asking, so nobody freak out: wouldn’t the average work shift allow for a person to vote either before or after work?

 

[NickName99]

Good on Apple.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Pretty cool of Apple. Just asking, so nobody freak out: wouldn’t the average work shift allow for a person to vote either before or after work?

For many people that would be true. At the same time, it can take a long time (depending on time and area) to vote. There are also a lot of people who don’t work a standard 8hr shift.
[automerge]1595631757[/automerge]

Good on Apple.

I don’t believe it is legal for your employer to fire you over taking time to vote. I don’t have the code in front of me at the moment.

 

[JosephAW]

You'd think they just make it a national holiday except the pole workers would take off of work as well.

 

[damphoose]

Pretty cool of Apple. Just asking, so nobody freak out: wouldn’t the average work shift allow for a person to vote either before or after work?

Normally I would say yes. But due to covid we are seeing with election that have taken place since March really bad situations. First cities don’t have staff. Polling places relay heavily on volunteers. People who are free in the daytime. Those people are generally retirees. Those are high risk individuals who do not want to put themselves at risk.
In addition many locations are going to be completely closed, meaning traveling further and waiting in longer lines to vote.

 

[goobot]

Just make it election week rather than day to make it easier for people.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Just make it election week rather than day to make it easier for people.

Have it coincide with “Shark Week“ on the Discovery Channel. The two seem rather apropos together.

 

[joeblow7777]

Is this not a law for all employers? Pretty sure it is here in Canada.

 

[dannyyankou]

This is great of them to do. Some work 2-3 jobs. Not everyone can take time out of their day to vote.

Pretty cool of Apple. Just asking, so nobody freak out: wouldn’t the average work shift allow for a person to vote either before or after work?

Not everyone works just one 9-5 job

 

[martinX]

Why on earth is voting day on a Tuesday? Here in Oz, voting is, and always has been, on a Saturday. Polls open at 8 and close at 6. If you can't make it, you can arrange to pre-vote at a post office. In major centres, you can't spit without hitting a polling station. Voting is compulsory, so woe betide an employer that tries to get in the way of that.

 

[joeblow7777]

You'd think they just make it a national holiday except the pole workers would take off of work as well.

That's true. It's only one day every 4 years. If it helps improve voter turnout, businesses should be closed for the day.

 

[azentropy]

Just make it election week rather than day to make it easier for people.

But that doesn't make for good TV

 

[FloatingBones]

If you’re the kind of guy who thinks it’s reasonable for people to have to wait several hours in line to vote, It’s probably not worth my time trying to convince you otherwise.

Your fallacy is presuming that early voting implies "hav[ing] to wait several hours in line." Can you make a logical argument?

What early voting?

From the Ballotpedia:

As of April 2020, 40 states (plus the District of Columbia) permitted no-excuse early voting in some form.

The list includes California.

Did you look before asking your question?

I’m quite aware that some states have some type of early voting. So screw the citizens of the states that don’t? And even among states that do, some make you jump through certain hoops to qualify for it. Do your own research.

It's forty states that have early voting. Why did you change 40 to "some"???

You asked "what early voting?". You have early voting. Use it.

Your fallacy presumes people DON’T have to wait in long lines.

You know that’s not true, don’t you? Your argument is disingenuous.

What fallacy? I have repeatedly participated in early voting. Never any lines. Here's a hint: do it early in the early voting window.

What exactly are we supposed to "know" is not true? WTF are you talking about?

Can you argue rationally, poison?

 

[citysnaps]

Just make it election week rather than day to make it easier for people.

In California voting is mail-in only. In the last primary we received mail-in ballots roughly one month before the election. Within that 30 day window you can either mail in your ballot, drop it off at designated county offices, or drop it in multiple election drop-boxes in the county.

Very convenient. All ballots have serial numbers and with that number you can track your ballot online.

Also, you can easily register to vote up to and including election day. And, anyone who applies for or renews a drivers license (or state ID card if you don't drive) is automatically registered to vote, if not currently registered.

It's a very nice setup.

 

[Frosties]

Why not world wide for every election if Apple think voting is impossible after business hours.

 

[citysnaps]

This is a false dilemma. Voters can participate in early voting. Those early voting facilities can have sanitization and isolation measures in place.

And mail-in ballots solves that and many other potential problems. No reason not to have it. California does it right.

 

[crisss1205]

Why on earth is voting day on a Tuesday? Here in Oz, voting is, and always has been, on a Saturday. Polls open at 8 and close at 6. If you can't make it, you can arrange to pre-vote at a post office. In major centres, you can't spit without hitting a polling station. Voting is compulsory, so woe betide an employer that tries to get in the way of that.

The election is always on November 4th. By law, all employees have to allow you to take time off to vote.

 

[PickUrPoison]

This is a false dilemma. Voters can participate in early voting. Those early voting facilities can have sanitization and isolation measures in place.

What early voting?

This is a false dilemma. Voters can participate in early voting. Those early voting facilities can have sanitization and isolation measures in place.
Your fallacy is presuming that early voting implies "hav[ing] to wait several hours in line." Can you make a logical argument?

Your fallacy presumes people DON’T have to wait in long lines.

You know that’s not true, don’t you? Your argument is disingenuous.

 

[konqerror]

Why on earth is voting day on a Tuesday? Here in Oz, voting is, and always has been, on a Saturday. Polls open at 8 and close at 6. If you can't make it, you can arrange to pre-vote at a post office. In major centres, you can't spit without hitting a polling station. Voting is compulsory, so woe betide an employer that tries to get in the way of that.

Friday-Sunday is problematic from a religion standpoint. Also, people working on weekends have to be paid more, which doesn't affect just the election staff but people like reporters and pollsters.

 

[PickUrPoison]

The election is always on November 4th. By law, all [employers] have to allow you to take time off to vote.

What country are you talking about? If you’re talking about the US, November 4th has nothing to do with anything.

And many can’t afford to lose the $7.25/hr they make, or know that if they take any time off, no matter what the reason, they could lose their job.