A provincial election will be held in Québec on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. The Québec Election Act provides that polling be held from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On the day of polling, every employee qualified to vote must be granted at least four consecutive hours to vote while the polling stations are open, not counting the time normally allowed for meals. If an employee does not have such a period outside working hours, his/her employer shall grant him/her the leave of absence required in order for him/her to have four consecutive hours to vote.
The employer determines the time of day during which such leave can take place. It is forbidden for an employer to penalize an employee, for example by deducing wages, by reason of the leave of absence.
It should be noted that a collective agreement may provide for more generous provisions.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.