Nebraska paid sick leave law

What it can be used for

The employee's own or a family member's illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis, treatment or preventive care; certain school meetings about a child's health; and public health closures or exposure-related isolation. Source: dol.nebraska.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Notice and documentation

Employees only have to give notice if you have a written policy requiring it. You may ask for documentation for absences of more than three consecutive workdays. You cannot require them to find a replacement. Source: dol.nebraska.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Who is not covered

Owner-operators, independent contractors, people working under 80 hours a year in Nebraska, seasonal or temporary agricultural workers, railroad workers under the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and workers under 16. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Penalties

The Commissioner of Labor issues citations: up to $500 for a first violation and $5,000 for later ones. Employers with unpaid citations cannot contract with the state. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Recent changes

Voter-approved Initiative 436 took effect 1 October 2025. LB415 (2025) limited the law to employers with 11 or more employees and changed enforcement. Leave given 1 January to 1 October 2025 counts toward 2025. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

The law and where to check

The law: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-3801 et seq. (Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act) (opens in a new tab)

The agency: Nebraska Department of Labor (opens in a new tab)

What federal law says

No federal law requires private employers to give paid sick leave. Federal contractors must give up to 7 days a year under Executive Order 13706. Source: U.S. Department of Labor↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: U.S. DOL — EO 13706↗ (opens in a new tab)

Paid sick leave checklist for Nebraska employers

A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.

1. Check whether your business size is covered by the rule above.
2. Set up accrual in your payroll or HR system (or front-load the yearly amount).
3. Write a sick leave policy covering accrual, the cap, carryover, notice and documentation.
4. Show each employee's balance where your state requires it.
5. Check for city or county sick leave laws where your staff work.
6. Keep records of time earned and used.

More Nebraska employment law guides

• All Nebraska employment laws
• Nebraska final paycheck law
• Nebraska meal and rest break laws
• Nebraska overtime law
• Nebraska pay frequency law
• Nebraska vacation and PTO payout law
• Nebraska new hire reporting
• Nebraska at-will exceptions

Paid sick leave laws in other states

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Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.

Last checked: October 19, 2026. Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.