Nebraska Lawmakers Continue Debate on Sick Leave Bill
Bill would require paid sick leave for employers with four or more workers.
By News Channel Nebraska
BEATRICE – Nebraska lawmakers continued debate on a bill Tuesday that would require employers with four or more employees to provide access to paid sick and safe leave.
LB 305 is sponsored by Senator Sue Crawford, of Bellevue, who says nearly half of Nebraska’s workforce does not have access to a single paid day when they, or a child are sick.
"Colleagues, this bill ultimately comes down to the question of whether you feel like our hard working Nebraskans deserve a paid sick day, and if our victims of domestic violence deserve a paid day to take care of affairs so they can keep themselves, safe".
Under the bill, workers could earn up to five days of sick leave pay. Crawford says ten other states have approved such a measure. She says studies in those states indicate the law saves money by reducing turnover, increasing productivity, and lowering health care costs.
Senator Ben Hansen, of Blair is an opponent of the bill.
"It's my opinion that laws such as this actually become more of a burden on employers, and it will cause them to reduce staff and benefits while making it harder for other businesses to start, or expand. Businesses which benefit for offering employees paid sick leave....benefits...they do so voluntarily...and they should".
Amendments to the bill were pending, on Tuesday. LB 305 was heard by the Business and Labor Committee. A motion today to cease debate on the bill, failed.
The bill is named The Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act.