It's voting time in Ontario! Our next election is taking place on February 27. What are your obligations as an employer? Hicks Morley points out the following:
Under the Ontario Election Act, all employees who are Canadian citizens, 18 years of age or older, and residents of Ontario are entitled to three consecutive hours to cast their vote on election day
Where an employer must provide time off to an employee so they can vote, the employer may not make any deduction from the employee’s pay or impose any form of penalty.
If an employee is a returning officer or is appointed by a returning officer to be a poll official, and they request leave for this role at least seven days prior to the commencement of the leave, the employer must provide unpaid time off for the employee to fulfil this role.
Read more about employer obligations to employees during elections on the Hicks Morley website.
