Biglaw Firm Offering Employees Paid Time Off To Vote

Biglaw firm is making sure their employees have the time to vote.

In a move believed to be a first amongst Biglaw firms, yesterday Steptoe & Johnson announced its participation in get-out-the-vote initiatives. The firm has joined the non-partisan ElectionDay.org and MakeTimetoVote.org, and they’ll be providing all employees with two hours of paid time off so they can vote.

To make it easier to vote in the 2018 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 6, Steptoe is providing two hours of paid leave to those who choose to vote at the beginning or end of their workday to allow for unexpected delays at polling stations, including long lines. The firm is also allowing additional flexibility during the work day for those needing more time to vote.

This is a great move that should be widely applauded and followed by other firms. Obviously, this is a great boon to employees who are paid hourly or have specific hours requirements. But this also speaks volumes about the culture the firm is trying to create. While most associates probably aren’t super worried about the paid part of the paid time off — their total billable hours aren’t going to take a big hit after all, and most firms provide associates with generous time-off policies (not that associates usually take full advantage of them) — but this sends the message that voting is an important thing that everyone should make time for. You don’t need to stealthily creep into your office if you walk in a little late on November 6th, not when the firm is publicly supporting get out the vote efforts.

Kudos to Steptoe — hopefully more Biglaw firms will follow suit.


headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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