Decoding Nebraska's Ballot: Guide to paid sick leave initiative
Next week, Nebraskans will get to decide whether or not paid sick time is a mandate.
October 29, 2024Updated: October 31, 2024
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaNEBRASKA - Next week, Nebraskans will get to decide whether or not paid sick time is a mandate.
Nebraskans will be able to vote for or against initiative measure 436. If passed by the majority, it would ensure that Nebraskans can earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs.
But how will impact Nebraska?
Dr. Eric Thompson is the director of the Bureau of Business Research at UNL. He said that mandated worker benefits are a mixed bag for workers and business.
“Obviously we have an interest in creating some minimum level of conditions for people at work," Thompson said. "The struggle, the challenge is always figuring out what should be included in that minimum set of conditions and what shouldn’t be in it."
Thompson said it can be beneficial for workers but challenging for companies to hire or have full-time workers.
“It kind of depends on your individual situation, similar for companies obviously if there’s a company that doesn’t feel like that they can or should offer paid sick leave right now being mandated to do so, could create challenges for their business in terms of its success and growth," Thompson said. "On the other hand, I guess for businesses that feel like they should provide sick leave the mandate would then require that their competitors to do so also. So, in that sense there could be some businesses that benefit from the policy as well.”
If passed, employees would earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. For employers with fewer than 20 employees, workers may earn up to five days off paid sick leave per year. For 20 or more employees, workers may earn up to seven days off paid sick leave per year.
In the U.S., federal law doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave. Right now, 15 states and Washington D.C. have paid sick time laws. Many cities and counties have also passed their own laws. Alaska and Missouri have similar initiatives on their ballots this year.
Thompson said all mandates cumulatively might affect the growth of the state economy and urges people to be mindful.
“To think about what are the key working conditions you feel that all jobs must have, and obviously we need to make a decision as citizens of the state about that and is this particular benefit important enough to be on that list," Thompson said.