The 2020 Election

This message was sent to all U.S.-based Gap Inc. employees. 

All, 

Last month, we unveiled our company purpose – Inclusive, by Design – which is built on the simple idea that we all deserve to belong, and on our own terms. More than the products we create, it’s the emotions we evoke, the actions we inspire, and how we show up in the world. This is about empowering our customers, communities and each other, to raise our voices and stand united, above and beyond any political party or candidate. Through our brands and company channels, we have amplified the right each of us has to exercise our vote and participate in the democratic process. 

This year, we’ve doubled down on leveraging our platform for good, reaching hundreds of thousands of teams and customers to increase civic engagement, voter registration and turnout, and to ensure polls are staffed today. We’ve done this through:

• Our #GapIncVotes campaign to amplify civic engagement 
   
• Our Power the Polls partnership enabling non-exempt employees to serve as poll workers with eight hours of pay 
   
• Our cross-brand collections of ‘vote’ t-shirts and masks
   
• Our Rock the Vote donations, and 
   
• Paid time off for store employees to vote today, on Election Day, and no meetings for exempt employees.

It’s inspiring to see the record number of people who have already voted and are expected to vote today; the critical work being done by local election officials and poll workers to create safe voting environments during a pandemic; and those of you who have taken the time to support our democracy by serving at the polls and voting.

It is possible that we won’t know this election outcome right away. It’s also possible that we may experience civil unrest in communities where we live and work. While it’s easy to get distracted by uncertainty, it’s important to focus on what we can control and continue to be there for one another and move forward. As we consider all outcomes in this election, our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our teams, customers and communities. We remain steadfast to our mission of ensuring our stores are welcoming and safe spaces for all, and we have strong contingency plans in place to manage issues that may arise.   

As a company of purpose-led lifestyle brands, we encourage all of you to use your voices and engage in our democracy. Please make sure to take the time to vote today if you haven’t already.  

We are grateful to each of you for the resilience and optimism you’ve demonstrated as an organization over these past eight months. The values of our company shine brightly through all of you and are what builds our collective strength as a force for good in the world. 

-The Gap Inc. Leadership Team 

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