Nordstrom making Election Day a holiday
Nordstrom wants to ensure that its employees have the time to vote on Nov. 3.
The department store retailer is making Election Day a holiday for all its U.S. employees. While Nordstrom stores and operations centers will remain open, the company will work with employees to set schedules which will enable them to get to the polls. It also will provide its store, fulfillment center, distribution center and call center employees discounted rides to the polls through Lyft.
"We believe every voice matters and our country is stronger when we all participate in the democratic process," said Pete Nordstrom, president and chief brand officer. "This initiative is a direct result of feedback we heard from more than 50,000 Nordstrom employees from all regions of the U.S. They told us they want to be actively engaged in their communities and help find solutions to the challenges we're facing. Enabling them to make their voices heard by voting is a meaningful and productive way we can support our people and our communities."
Nordstrom’s Election Day initiative is part of the company’s new Make Your Voice Heard nationwide non-partisan voter participation campaign, which it is undertaking in partnership with nonprofits When We All Vote and the National Urban League. Nordstrom said it aims to educate, inspire and make it easy for Nordstrom employees and customers to make their voice heard – both through responding to the 2020 Census and by voting in upcoming primaries and elections.
Together, the organizations will bring the Make Your Voice Heard campaign to life through virtual learning series, digital volunteer opportunities, curbside voter registration, and a suite of online resources related to the 2020 Census, voter registration, education, and participation.
In addition, Nordstrom is supporting employees to participate in the voting process by partnering with Civic Alliance, which is working to connect employees to volunteer opportunities. The group hopes to identify 250,000 new poll workers and election volunteers to support safe and secure voting.
Nordstrom is also introducing an exclusive collection of Nordstrom Made "Vote" apparel for Men, Women and Kids to celebrate voters' rights. The styles include t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring Vote graphics priced from $19 to $60 and a portion of every Nordstrom Made Vote purchase will be donated to When We All Vote and the National Urban League.