More law firms giving time off to vote

While many states require employers to give their employees time off to vote, North Carolina isn’t one of them. But in what many are calling the most important election year in decades, some North Carolina law firms are encouraging their attorneys and staff to cast their ballots with paid time off.

Fox Rothschild and Poyner Spruill are among the firms that are giving their attorneys and staff paid time to vote during an election that “has important races up and down the ballot,” said Matt Leerberg, a managing partner with Fox Rothschild. While many have voted early or by mail, some employees are concerned their votes won’t be counted properly or might fail on some technicality if they mail them, he said.

So, for the first time, Fox Rothschild is giving attorneys and staff three hours in the morning or three hours in the afternoon to vote. Leerberg said it’s a “common sense and thoughtful approach” and that he hopes all North Carolina law firms take the same approach.

This year was a good opportunity to send out non-partisan reminders to its staff and attorneys that they can take a “reasonable amount of time” out of their workday to vote, said Dan Cahill, managing partner of Poyner Spruill in Raleigh.

“We hope we are not unique,” Cahill said. “Our firm has had a long-standing internal policy encouraging everyone to vote. We view voting as a precious right, as well as a civic duty.”

Staff reports