Elections and Work: How to Organize Your Team and Schedule with Confidence

As the election period approaches, it is natural for managers and Human Resources professionals to have questions about their day-to-day operations, especially in companies that remain open on Sundays. Balancing business operations with employees' exercise of their civic rights does not have to be a challenge. With advance planning and proper organization, work schedules can be managed smoothly while ensuring that everything continues to run efficiently.

The key during this period is alignment. Understanding the basic guidelines related to elections helps companies create a collaborative environment, value their employees, and maintain productivity. Below, we explain how to handle the two most common situations during this period.

 Employees Called to Serve as Poll Workers

Many professionals are called upon by the Electoral Justice system to serve as poll workers or perform other support duties on election day. In these cases, Brazilian legislation provides fair compensation for the service they provide to the community.

• The Double Time-Off Rule

For each day an employee is at the service of the Electoral Justice system, they are entitled to two days of paid leave. This includes not only election day itself but also days dedicated to official training.

• No Salary Deductions

The days on which an employee is absent from work to perform these electoral duties are considered justified absences. Therefore, no deductions may be made from their salary.

• Alignment and Flexibility

The dates on which these days off will be taken should be defined by mutual agreement between the company and the employee. Ideally, managers should speak with the employee as soon as they receive their official summons, allowing absences to be planned for periods that are suitable both for the employee's rest and for the company's operational needs.

Working on Election Sunday: How to Allow Employees Time to Vote

For restaurants, hospitals, retail businesses, industrial companies, and other organizations that normally operate on Sundays, the main focus should be schedule planning. Voting is a fundamental right, and companies play an important role in making it possible for their employees to exercise that right.

• Time to Vote

Employees scheduled to work on election Sunday must be given sufficient time during their workday to travel to their polling location, vote, and return to work.

• Paid Absence

The time required for travel and voting should not result in salary deductions, nor should employees be required to make up those hours later.

• The Rotation Strategy

One of the best practices is to identify in advance where each employee votes, as some may live or vote farther away from their workplace, and create an efficient rotation schedule.

While one group leaves to vote in the morning, another group can cover the operation. The groups can then switch roles in the afternoon. This approach helps ensure that customer service and production activities can continue without unnecessary interruptions.

Practical Tips for HR and Leadership

To ensure that election Sunday is simply another well-organized workday, companies can take a few simple steps in the weeks leading up to the election:

• Conduct an Early Survey

Send a friendly internal communication asking employees whether they have been called to perform electoral duties and whether they will need time during their workday to vote.

• Create the Schedule and Share It Early

Once this information has been collected, prepare the rotation schedule and share it with the team several days in advance. This helps reduce uncertainty and demonstrates that the company values organization and employee well-being.

• Keep Communication Open

Encourage direct managers and team leaders to communicate with their teams. The closer the relationship between leadership and employees, the easier it becomes to address unexpected scheduling issues.

The election period is an excellent opportunity to reinforce a culture of collaboration and care within the company. When management plans ahead and organizes the day clearly, employees feel more supported and motivated, while business operations can continue smoothly.

Have you already started organizing your team's rotation schedule for the upcoming election Sunday?