Lindsey Clements, the co-owner of Vis Major Brewing Company in Omaha's Field Club neighborhood, said it was in the midst of the pandemic that she and her husband began thinking about providing paid sick leave to their employees.
"I think we all learned to stay home and rest so we can prevent the furthering of any kind of illness within the team and extended to our customers," Clements said. "We wanted to make sure we can take care of our staff so they are not feeling pressured financially to come in when they are sick."
In 2023, Clements implemented a paid sick leave policy for her small staff of about 10 to 12 part-time employees. She said it often comes as a shock for food service workers who are unaccustomed to receiving benefits, but it's helped boost morale at the local brewery.Â
Now, she is one of advocating for a ballot measure to make paid sick leave mandatory for all full-time, part-time and temporary employees. The supporters span across industries, from bars and restaurants to home healthcare providers to law firms.Â
On Wednesday, a handful of business owners and activists gathered at Vis Major to show support for the ballot measure. If voters approve it in this year's election, Nebraska employers with fewer than 20 workers must offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year, or one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 20 or more workers must offer at least seven days per year. The requirements would take effect in October 2025.
If passed, the new requirements could impact hundreds of thousands of Nebraska workers. According to , about 35% of full-time and 77% of part-time workers in the state received no paid sick leave in 2021.Â
Rafael Santa-Maria, the chief operating officer of in-home healthcare company Caring for People Services, said paid sick leave is crucial for people working in healthcare and other direct support roles. While his company implemented a paid sick leave policy more than 10 years ago, he said that isn't always the case in the industry.
About 17% of full-time and 39% of part-time healthcare workers received no paid sick leave in 2021, according to the Department of Labor.Â
"It is hard to reconcile the idea that an employee would have to choose between their own family member's health — or their own — and their family's security," Santa-Maria said.Â
The Nebraska Legislature has declined to approve a paid sick leave measure in recent years. In 2021, a legislative bill faced opposition from business groups, including the Nebraska, Omaha and ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ Chambers of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses and groups representing bankers, grocers, retailers and restaurants. Opponents also said the measure would have created business complexities.Â
One , conducted in late August by Split Ticket and SurveyUSA, found overwhelming support for the ballot measure, with 62% of respondents in support and 19% against, with another 19% undecided.Â
According to the , 15 states and Washington D.C. have laws mandating some amount of paid sick time.Â
Lindsey Clements speaks during a press conference held by proponents of ballot initiative 436 for paid sick at Vis Major in Omaha on Wednesday. Clements is one of the owners of Vis Major and offers paid sick leave for her part-time employees.