Retailers are recognizing a new holiday in November this year: Election Day.
With the big presidential election coming up on Nov. 3, a number of retailers are giving their employees space to get out the vote by reducing hours or giving workers the day off.
More than 1,300 companies are making it easier for their employees to vote this Election Day; here are some of the biggest ones (in alphabetical order):
1. &pizza
Pizza chain &pizza is closing all 40 of their stores and giving employees paid time off on Election Day, Nov. 3.
2. Apple
Bloomberg reported that Apple is giving all of their employees up to four hours off with pay on Election Day so they can vote or volunteer at a polling place.
3. Athleta
Any Athleta employee who needs the time to vote will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. Stores will be open regular hours.
4. Away
The U.S. luggage store is closing all corporate offices and 10 retail locations, and giving employees a full day of paid time off on Election Day, Nov. 3 — according to Business Insider.
5. Banana Republic
Any Banana Republic employee who needs the time to vote will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. Stores will be open regular hours.
6. Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is giving employees at their headquarters and manufacturing facilities a paid day off to vote.
No info about their policy towards workers at their nationwide ice cream shops, but Ben & Jerry’s has joined Time to Vote, a movement whose members pledge to either allow for flexible hours, paid hours off, or even a company-wide paid holiday to get voters to the polls or encourage civic participation at polling places.
7. Best Buy
For the first time ever, Best Buy stores will open late on Election Day; business hours will begin at noon on Nov. 3.
They’re also giving employees who volunteer at polling stations paid time off.
8. Birkenstock
Election Day is a paid holiday for Birkenstock employees in the U.S., according to Footwear News — in order to encourage voting.
9. Canada Goose
Luxury outerwear store Canada Goose will give all of their workers a paid day off on Election Day, and will close all stores, to encourage voting.
10. Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods hasn’t released specific information about what they’re doing, but they have joined Time to Vote, a movement whose members pledge to either allow for flexible hours, paid hours off, or even a company-wide paid holiday to get voters to the polls or encourage civic participation at polling places.
11. Gap
Any GAP employee who needs the time to vote will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. Stores will be open regular hours.
12. JCPenney
JCPenney says they’ve “committed to providing their associates with work flexibility and access to reliable and accurate voting information.”
That means they’ll let workers adjust their hours to make sure they can vote. Stores will maintain normal business hours.
13. J.Crew & Madewell
All J.Crew and Madewell stores will be closed on Election Day, as well as corporate offices and customer service centers.
Employees will be paid for the time off, so they don’t “have to choose between voting and earning a paycheck,” according to the official release.
14. Kohl’s
Kohl’s hasn’t released specific information about what they’re doing, but they have joined Time to Vote, a movement whose members pledge to either allow for flexible hours, paid hours off, or even a company-wide paid holiday to get voters to the polls or encourage civic participation at polling places.
15. Levi’s
Levis is giving employees five hours off — paid — so they can vote on Election Day.
In the run-up to the election, they’ve been giving workers five hours paid time off every month so they can volunteer to help register voters.
Stores will remain open for normal business hours.
16. Lululemon
Lululemon says they’re closing stores early on Election Day, but still paying employees for a full day, in order to allow employees to vote.
Check with your local Lululemon to find out when your store is closing.
17. Macy’s
Macy’s hasn’t released specific information about what they’re doing, but they have joined Time to Vote, a movement whose members pledge to either allow for flexible hours, paid hours off, or even a company-wide paid holiday to get voters to the polls or encourage civic participation at polling places.
18. Nike
Nike has pledged to help employees vote with Time to Vote, and their Election Day benefits vary state to state. Some employees will receive time off, others will get a meeting-free day so they can have a flexible Nov. 3 schedule.
19. Old Navy
Old Navy announced they’re paying store employees a full day’s work for staffing polling stations on Election Day.
Additionally, any Old Navy employee who needs the time to vote will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. Stores will be open regular hours.
20. Patagonia
Patagonia is continuing their ongoing tradition of closing stores on Election Day to encourage customers and employees to vote.
Employees get Nov. 3 as a paid holiday.
21. REI
REI employees can use their “Co-op Way Days” — paid time off that employees can use for community service, voting, and other citizen activities — on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Stores will remain open for regular business hours.
22. Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue has made Election Day a paid holiday for corporate employees, and is offering maximum flexibility to retail employees to make sure they can vote on Nov. 3.
23. Starbucks
Starbucks has a whole website dedicated to helping their employees (aka “Partners”) have all the information they need to vote in the 2020 Election. They’ve also said that they plan to be very flexible with employees on Nov. 3 to ensure everyone who wants to vote is able to.
24. Target
Target is giving paid time off to all eligible team members so they can serve as election judges.
They’ve also joined Time to Vote, a movement whose members pledge to either allow for flexible hours, paid hours off, or even a company-wide paid holiday to get voters to the polls or encourage civic participation at polling places.
25. The Body Shop
Business Insider reported that The Body Shop will close all of their stores, and give all of their employees Nov. 3 off to encourage voting.
26. The North Face
The North Face has made Nov. 3 a civic engagement day, which gives retail employees staggered half days off and all employees up to three hours of paid time off to vote (according to Business Insider).
27. Vineyard Vines
For employees whose schedules don’t allow time for voting, Vineyard Vines says they’re giving employees three hours of paid time off on Nov. 3.
Stores and corporate offices will have reduced hours on Election Day; check with your local store to find out Nov. 3 hours.
28. Walmart
Walmart associates will get three hours of paid time off on Nov. 3 so they can go vote, as part of their participation in Time to Vote.
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