Oprah Winfrey makes Election Day a holiday at her company

‘I challenge other companies to do the same because this might be the most important election of our lives,’ media mogul says

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Oprah Winfrey has made Election Day an official holiday at her company, stating that the upcoming presidential vote in the US “might be the most important election of our lives”.

On 3 November 2020, members of the public in the US will vote for their next president, with Democratic candidate Joe Biden going up against the current US president Donald Trump.

The presidential vote is always held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, a tradition that has been upheld since 1845.

In order to allow her employees enough time to cast their votes, Winfrey has announced that all members of staff at her television network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, will be able to take the day as a company-wide holiday.

In a post shared on Instagram, the talk show host explained that the decision to make 3 November a holiday was made “in honour of those who fought and continue to fight for our rights”.

Winfrey stated that it was recently the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave some women the right to vote in the US.

“In honour of those who fought and continue to fight for our rights, I’m announcing that November 3rd, Election Day, will be a company holiday at @owntv,” she said.

“This will give my team the necessary time to put on their masks, get to the polls, cast their ballots, and volunteer.”

Winfrey expressed her hope that other firms will follow in her footsteps by giving workers time off to vote in the election.

“I challenge other companies to do the same because this might be the most important election of our lives,” the 66-year-old said.

“Together we can overcome all obstacles in order to exercise our right to vote.”

Winfrey recently featured the late Breonna Taylor on the cover of her eponymous magazine, marking the first time in 20 years that the media mogul has not appeared on the front.

In March this year, Taylor was fatally shot after police officers entered her apartment in Kentucky, US using a no-knock warrant.

In an essay written for O, The Oprah Magazine about Taylor, Winfrey wrote that “like everyone who dies unexpectedly, she had plans. Plans for a future filled with responsibility and work and friends and laughter”.