Intro to Nebraska Labor Laws

In February 2025’s edition of The Scoop, we communicated that Nebraska was passing a paid sick time law, and the Healthy Workplaces and Families Act (HWFA) is now in effect as of October 1, 2025. The law requires most employers with 11 or more employees to allow staff to earn and use paid sick time, capped annually at 40 or 56 hours depending on company size. Employers should work with legal counsel to make sure all sick leave policies meet or exceed the state's requirements, provide employees with the required written notice, and display the official poster.

The Fair Employment Practice Act, which bars discriminatory practices based on protected characteristics in workplaces with 15 or more employees, has been expanded to include characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, and protective hairstyles (braids, locks, and twists) under the category of race.

This fall, Nebraska will implement a paid sick leave law for employees to use for their own or a covered family member's illness, preventive care, or public health emergencies, such as school or workplace closures. Under the law, family members include an employee’s child, parent or legal guardian, spouse, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or any other blood relative, or any other individual whose close association with the employee is equivalent to a family relationship. This law will require small employers with 19 or fewer total employees with at least 1 in Nebraska to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave and large employers with 20 or more total employees with up to 56 hours of sick leave. The law is still being developed, and as such, there may be more updates once it’s finalized. Employers are encouraged to stay alert to any changes.