More than 700 companies have pledged to give their workers time off to vote on Election Day. Here are the retailers and restaurants that have joined the growing movement.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
- As Election Day draws closer, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time off to vote.
- More than 700 companies have joined the "Time to Vote" movement, which aims to increase voter turnout by giving workers flexibility to cast their ballots.
- Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have signed the pledge and shared details about their plans.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The US has one of the lowest voter turnout rates among developed countries. According to the Pew Research Center, 56% of those who were eligible to vote cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential election.
Though there may be a number of reasons for citizens not voting, a growing number of companies are joining a movement that's aiming to ensure that work schedules and demands are not among them come November 3.
Through the "Time to Vote" campaign, a nonpartisan movement begun by Patagonia, Levi Strauss, and PayPal, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time to vote.
More than 700 companies have joined the movement so far.
Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have added their name to the list and shared specific plans about how they're empowering their employees to vote:
Bethany Biron/Business Insider
Source: The New York Times
Levi Strauss is offering five hours of paid time off for all employees to vote on Election Day. It's also offering five hours of paid time off each month for workers to volunteer for voter engagement efforts.(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Corbis via Getty Images)
Source: Time to Vote
J. Crew announced it would also join in supporting "Time to Vote," closing all J. Crew and Madewell stores, offices, and distribution and customer service centers for the whole of Election Day.Bryan Thomas/Getty
Source: J. Crew
Walmart store associates get three paid hours for voting if the timing of their shifts don't otherwise allow for it. They have to provide a day's notice to their supervisor, a company spokesperson told CNBC.Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Source: CNBC
Apple is giving retail and hourly employees up to four hours off with pay, Bloomberg reported in July.VCG/Getty Images
Source: Bloomberg
Best Buy said it would shorten its operating hours on Election Day. This includes stores, corporate offices, field offices, and in-home installation services. It said it would also make arrangements for distribution center and customer service employees.Reuters
Source: Best Buy
Nike's Election Day policies vary across the country, depending on the state's voting laws. Offerings could include paid time off, a meeting-free day, or resources about mail-in ballots.Reuters
Source: Nike
Hourly workers at Sweetgreen will get up to three hours of paid time off for Election Day or for voting early. The salad chain is also sharing resources to educate employees about the voting process, and it created a custom registration site.Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Source: Sweetgreen
All US employees of The North Face and its parent company, VF Corporation, will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. For corporate employees, Election Day is being designated an "Explore Day," which North Face uses to give workers time to live out the brand's values. Retail employees are also being offered staggered half-days off.John Keeble/Getty Image
Source: The North Face
Gap Inc. will be giving all workers at its portfolio of brands — Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, and Janie and Jack — up to three hours of paid time off if their schedules do not allow for voting. At headquarters, workers will be encouraged to have a meeting-free Election Day.REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Source: Everlane
Ben & Jerry's is making Election Day an official day off for workers at headquarters and at its two manufacturing facilities in Vermont.Shutterstock
Source: Ben & Jerry's
The Coca-Cola Company has made Election Day a paid holiday for all US employees. The company has also curated resources around voting deadlines and guidelines and created nonpartisan volunteer opportunities for workers in the lead-up to Election Day.Kirill Kukhmar\TASS via Getty Images)
Source: Time to Vote