Federal Election Guide For Employers

A federal election will be held on Monday, October 19, 2015. As a service to our clients, we are publishing this bulletin on the obligations which employers owe their employees on election day.

Employers must provide their employees:

Three consecutive hours off work

• Eligible voters are entitled to three  consecutive hours off work while  polls are open for the purpose of  casting their ballot.
• All Canadian citizens who are at  least 18 years of age on election day are eligible to vote.

Without loss of pay

• Employers may not make any  deduction from an employee's pay  because the employee took time  off work to vote.

At a time scheduled by the employer

• Employers can choose when to  provide the three consecutive hours for voting. The legislation allows employers to schedule time off work at the convenience of the  employer.