The countdown to Election Day is on. And it’s pretty hard to miss--from the piles of postcards and mailers arriving in your mailbox to the incessant political television ads, most people are being inundated with election coverage. While you may be thinking about the decisions you’ll be making next Tuesday, here’s another thing for you to consider: Should you give your employees time off to vote? While there aren’t any federal laws requiring employers to give time off, in many states, it’s the law. Employee time off is usually granted in particular situations where a worker's hours don’t provide enough time to vote during poll hours.

In California, for example, state law says voters may take up to two hours off with pay if their working hours don’t allow them the sufficient time to vote. And in Florida , employees can take up to one hour of leave with pay for the purpose of voting. If you’re not sure of your local laws, it might be a good idea to check with your state’s Secretary of State office.

Even if your state doesn’t mandate time off, it might be helpful to allow an employee to come in one hour later or leave one hour earlier to ensure they make it to the polls. Or, there’s always my personal preference in voting--using an absentee ballot.

To find out more, read this news release . Are political debates heating up in your office? Check out our article for tips on how to defuse any possible office arguments.