Q: Can my employer refuse to give
me time off to vote?
A: Employers are required to give
their employees two hours paid time off to vote.
According to section 36(2) of the
Representation of People Act 1967, as amended
"Every employer shall on polling day allow every elector in his
employ the prescribed period for voting and no employer shall make any
deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose upon
or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during that period"
Additionally, according to Rule
28 under the Election Rules deemed to be made under section 161 of the Act
states:
“Every employer shall permit each elector in his employment to be
absent from his work on polling day during the hours of the poll for two hours
in addition to the normal midday meal hour.”
The penalty for non-compliance is
enshrined in section 96 of the Act:
"An employer who fails to comply with any of the provisions on
section 36 (2) and any person who directly or indirectly by intimidation, undue
influence, or in any other way interferes with the granting to an elector or
the prescribed period for voting referred to in that subsection is liable on
summary conviction to fine of $30,000 or to imprisonment for 12 months."
Do I need to vote ? If I do not vote am I still entitled to my two hours off ?
ReplyDeleteThe two hours is to vote... it is not an extended lunch/break period. If you don't return with a stained finger, your employer has every right to discipline you.
DeleteIf you're not voting, you cannot take the 2 hours.
Can an employer specify the period of time where time off must be taken?
ReplyDeleteOf course... just like they can specify your breaks and lunch.
DeleteAm I entitled a paid day off if I am working on polling day
ReplyDeleteYou want a paid day off from your main employer to go do an election day pj?
DeleteAm l still entitled to two hours off during working hours if l vote before my work starts?
ReplyDeletecan i use anothe form of Id beside my ID to vote?
ReplyDeleteYes, a passport or birth-paper may work. It requires taking a special oath.
DeleteIf your works hours are from 10 am to 8 pm. Can your employer demand you to vote before going to work without giving the 2 hours off between 10-6?
ReplyDeleteIt is a reasonable request by the employer... I'm not sure if that could be an exemption.
DeleteGood question, but I can't give a definite answer.
Ok thank you.
Deleteif you are working offshore and it wasn't made clear to you about special electors by your employer and the employer is saying that its the employee responsibility to register and if he /she is not registered thats not their fault and they can't mandate to their customers to stop or delay their offshore operations. what am i to do ?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the opening and closing hours of the pooling stations?
ReplyDelete0600 - 1800
DeleteGood day, is there a complete list of rules for voters on election day? Such as no party symbols or nail polish, etc?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the Act listed in the post.
DeleteWhom do you report your employer too, if he threatens to not give the time
ReplyDeletePolice... it's a criminal offence.
DeleteWhat does the law say about citizens right to vote?
ReplyDeleteIs it mandatory?
If it is not and an employee leaves with the intention to vote and chooses not too at the last moment would this.... "If you don't return with a stained finger, your employer has every right to discipline you.".... apply in this case?
Does the law say anything about the extension of voting hours? Who has the authority to do this.
ReplyDeleteThe Act is silent on that specific issue.
DeleteIf i am working a 6am to 2pm shift on election day and i am only allowed to leave work at 1:33pm is that legal? i wasnt allowed 2hours to vote. can u advise me?
ReplyDeleteYou had 4 (and even 5) hours to vote outside of your working hours. However, you're supposed to get 2 hours to vote, but the purpose of that is to ensure that you have enough time to do so... technically you did any way.
DeleteCan voting hours be increased by ebc... can the elections be void
ReplyDeletehttp://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150909/press-releases/ebc-responds-we-have-the-power
DeleteI work at a private secondary school in Trinidad. Can my employer refuse to give me the two hours off for voting because school ends at 2:30 pm?
ReplyDeleteThe Act isn't clear on that, but I that's a technicality I think can be easily justified by the Employer.
DeleteDoes this time off apply to Local Government Elections or just General Elections?
ReplyDeleteis it okay not to vote
ReplyDeleteYou decide:
Deletehttp://www.newsday.co.tt/commentary/0,216636.html
If we were not schedule to work on election day and was offered over time. Is it still required for us to get the 2 hours to vote?
ReplyDeleteif you are working as a polling clerk do you applied for a day off from work
ReplyDeletecan my employer tell me what time i can go vote
ReplyDeleteYes
Delete