Duncan Channon Helps Employees Volunteer in the Midterms with PTO Initative

With the Nov 6 midterm elections today, independent agency Duncan Channon is encouraging employees to volunteer at the polls with a paid day off.

Thanks to the midterm election volunteer PTO benefit, over 20 percent of DC’s 60-person staff took a new voting-related action. Seven employees -- in addition to DC’s co-founder and chairman Robert Duncan -- are volunteering at local polling locations for the midterms. Another 7 employees registered to vote.

The idea to offer PTO for employees volunteering in the midterms originated with Duncan Channon art director J. Moe (known as ‘Moe’ to her colleagues, friends and family).

After volunteering in Richmond, California during the 2016 presidential election, Moe experienced firsthand what it was like to have an understaffed polling location -- and became passionate about inspiring others to serve as election officials. Moe saw election volunteering as a gateway to greater participation in our democratic process.  

“When I volunteered for the first time in the 2016 presidential election, it struck me how vital it is to have passionate, civic-minded workers supporting voters at the polls,” said Moe. “As an election official, you’re on the front lines of helping people through the process and ensuring their right to vote. It’s an overlooked, yet powerful way to contribute.”  

When preparing to request a vacation day to volunteer in the Nov 6 midterms, Moe decided to not only ask DC’s partners to pay for her time off -- but for any agency staffer who wanted to volunteer at the polls. For Duncan Channon CEO Andy Berkenfield, extending the PTO benefit to the entire agency was a “no brainer.” What’s more, Moe became an ambassador for election volunteering within DC -- making a presentation to the entire agency and working 1:1 with staffers to show them how to sign up and get trained to volunteer, as well as how to register to vote.

“In addition to closing our doors for a full day once a year to volunteer together as an agency, we’re making it easier for employees to participate in their communities at critical moments,” said Berkenfield. “Last year after the Northern California fires, every staffer received 3 days of paid time off to assist with fire recovery efforts. Now, we’re removing barriers and encouraging our staff to volunteer on election day.”

Added Moe: “As an advertising creative, I’ve spent my career raising awareness for brands -- and I’m hoping we can add some of that energy toward working in elections. It’s a valuable way to serve our democracy and I hope that other companies begin to offer this benefit as well.”