What LB 415 Proposes

LB 415, a priority bill of the Business and Labor Committee, includes AM 545, an amendment that would significantly weaken Paid Sick Leave (Initiative 436)—a ballot measure that Nebraskans overwhelmingly supported in November.

If passed, AM 545 would strip paid sick leave protections from several groups, including:

• Seasonal and temporary agricultural workers
• Workers under the age of 16
• Employees of businesses with fewer than 11 workers

This amendment directly undermines the will of Nebraska voters and denies thousands of workers the right to earn sick time.

Why NASW-NE Strongly Opposes LB 415

Paid sick leave is essential to public health and economic stability. By excluding some of Nebraska’s most vulnerable workers, AM 545 exacerbates inequality and puts communities at risk.

• Illness doesn’t discriminate – All workers, regardless of job type, deserve time to recover without financial hardship.
• Protecting public health – Denying paid sick leave increases workplace illness, affecting coworkers and customers alike.
• Fairness and economic security – No worker should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.

This bill prioritizes business interests over worker well-being, contradicting the core values of the social work profession, which seeks to empower and protect vulnerable populations. LB 415 with AM 545 is a direct attack on those principles.