CEOs Must Get Out The Vote

Sam Caucci

I messed up. That’s why I’m writing this. Yesterday, I had a conversation with one of my employees and they told me they aren’t going to vote because they are too busy. I couldn’t believe it. As a CEO, I’m vocal about the importance of voting. I talk to my team about voting at team meetings, during one-on-one calls, and have been posting about it all over our company Slack channel. 1Huddle even released a Get Out the Vote video encouraging workers across the country to vote and showing folks how to complete their mail-in ballots. Our team is constantly brainstorming creative ways to get people excited about voting while making sure every CEO and worker understands what’s at stake in this election. So when one of my own employees casually told me they hadn’t voted and weren’t planning to, I was shocked. And frankly, I was mad—because I knew I failed. Maybe I waited too long to check in with them? Maybe I should have reached out and been more vocal? Maybe I should have walked them to the polls myself!? So yesterday afternoon, I called my employees one by one and asked them: Have you voted? If not, is your voting plan ready to go? How can I support you so that you find the time to get to the polls by Tuesday? Do I wish I’d had these conversations with my team earlier? Yes. I’m writing this with only 48 hours left until the polls close on this election, but I’m writing it because it’s not too late for CEOs to make a firm demand of your employees to vote in person on Tuesday. As a CEO who works with companies across every vertical and who’s committed to lifting up people at all corners of the workforce, I am encouraging every CEO to take action because I know that every CEO’s vote matters to their business. Who we vote for across every race will have an impact on our business and our workforce. Let’s make this easy. I know we’re all busy hitting our Q4 numbers, so here are the questions I asked myself (and raised to my employees) when I was considering the reason why I need to vote AND the which candidates should earn my vote:

1. Which candidates are going to close the skills gap?

The skills gap grew by double digits last year, before the pandemic even started. Now, there are over 40 million workers in America who have lost their jobs due to COVID, and a significant number of those workers will need retraining to transition to in-demand occupations in other fields. How would you like to hire an employee that is ready on Day 1? Well, then we need a candidate with a concrete plan to help close the skills gap. One way to accomplish that is by making community colleges not just more affordable (or free) but more effective. Every community in America can become a talent and knowledge hub if community colleges are transformed into places where people of all ages and income levels have the opportunity to continually upskill and reskill. And once that happens, we can create a world where companies are able to tap into great skills locally. So before you vote, find out the candidates plans for investing in community colleges and training that will help hard-working Americans access the education and skills they need to remain competitive in the increasingly technology-driven and globalized economy of the 21st Century.

2. Which candidates have a better plan for how to use our tax dollars?

I get that taxes suck. However, as an adult and a business owner, I know I have to pay them. And I’m ok with paying taxes if I know my tax dollars will be used in productive ways to lift up my community and local businesses. As a CEO, you shouldn’t be ok with your tax dollars being wasted. So rather than simply asking yourself which candidates are going to tax you less, ask yourself which candidates have a better plan on how to actually use your tax dollars well. Good CEOs understand the cost of a discount. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better. I don’t want to be taxed less if it means my employees will have to drive to work on roads that are crumbling. I don’t want to be taxed less if it means the security guards in my building can’t focus on their job because they’re worried about being able to cover basic health and safety needs. I don’t want to be taxed less if it means the local bodega next door will close and customers won’t have a unique neighborhood spot to visit when they come by our office. My point is that how much we pay in taxes and where those taxes are going has a ripple effect, and every CEO will benefit from electing candidates whose policies transform our business centers into prosperous communities. Candidates who think of the world as a place of abundance, not as a place of scarcity. As a CEO, I’ve been wired to think of the world as a place of abundance. When policies help my workers thrive, my business thrives too. And honestly, if you’re a CEO who sees things from a scarcity mindset, well then it won’t be a candidate who makes you go out of business. You’ll do that all on your own.

3. Which candidates have a plan for the future of work?

Too many politicians today are offering 20th Century solutions to 21st Century problems. At 1Huddle, we believe the government needs to invest in a future of work infrastructure that leverages technology to reach workers—especially our most vulnerable workers. There are candidates who support investing millions of dollars into ensuring every American has broadband access. At a time when unprecedented numbers of workers are working from home and kids across the country are in virtual school for the foreseeable future, making sure every American has access to broadband is something every CEO should support. It makes sense for our businesses, for our workers, and for the students of today who will become the workers and leaders of tomorrow. So if you’re like most CEOs and are voting primarily based on your business interests, then supporting candidates who have a plan to close the digital divide is in your best interest. As a CEO, these are the three questions I have been thinking about as I prepare to vote on Tuesday. If you want a more in-depth plan on how Congress and the president can raise every worker, you can check out 1Huddle’s policy plan on the state and needs of the U.S. workforce. Now, it’s time to take action. As business leaders, it’s our job to talk to our workers about the importance of voting and take responsibility in them showing up on Tuesday. See you at the polls.