Joshua Noweck plans to leave work a few minutes early Tuesday to vote near his home in Pitcairn -- then collect four hours of paid time off.
It's all fine with his employer, circuit board maker Compunetics. President and founder Giorgio Coraluppi offered the voting incentive to his workers during the last presidential election and in 2006, and will do so again this year.
While it appears few area companies provide time off for visits to the polls, "I thought it was important since Election Day is on a working day," said Coraluppi, a native of Milan, Italy, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1969. "I did recognize that for some working in the company, it was not very convenient."
The 400 area employees of Monroeville-based Compunetics and two related firms -- Compunetix, which makes teleconferencing equipment, and Chorus Call, which sells teleconferencing and meeting services -- must show voter ticket stubs to qualify. The time off can be used on Election Day, or later.
Pennsylvania isn't one of the 30 states with laws that address time off to vote. In 20 of those states, employees must be paid for time spent voting, said the Business Owner's Toolkit Web site for small businesses.
Mark Wolosik, elections division manager for Allegheny County, said he knows of no other area employers with policies like Coraluppi's. A few large employers said they encourage their staffs to vote, but provide no time or other perks.
Because the polls operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., there's "an opportunity to do this before or after work, depending on the time of their shifts or business hours," U.S. Steel Corp. spokesman John Armstrong said.
Coraluppi, who started his three companies in 1968, said more companies should follow Compunetics' policy, especially because Pennsylvania doesn't offer the opportunity to vote early.
"So this is a good way to remove barriers against them exercising that right," he said. Two years ago, 77 percent of his workers voted and got the four hours off.
Voters indeed may spend more time in line this year. Wolosik is projecting a 75 percent voter turnout Tuesday in Allegheny County, up from the 69.8 percent who voted in the 2004 presidential election.
Barack Obama's campaign asked supporters this week to "take the day off" to vote, in part to prevent long lines at busy times. But PNC Financial Services Chief Economist Stuart Hoffman said if widely followed, that could disrupt the economy here and abroad.
"There are too many professions you just can't walk away from," he said, adding he hopes the suggestion by the Democratic presidential nominee's staff wasn't meant literally.
Noweck is an automated assembly operator at Compunetics who programs machinery to mount parts on circuit boards. Because he lives close to the plant he doesn't need four hours off to vote, but he appreciates the time off.
"I have always voted, no matter what," he said.
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