Short answer. 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked; accrual begins after 80 hours of consecutive employment. Employers with 11 to 19 employees must allow accrual of up to 40 hours a year; employers with 20 or more, up to 56 hours. Use beyond the yearly maximum need not be allowed.
At a glance
- Law
- Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
- In effect
- October 1, 2025.
- Accrual
- 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked; accrual begins after 80 hours of consecutive employment.
- Yearly limit
- Employers with 11 to 19 employees must allow accrual of up to 40 hours a year; employers with 20 or more, up to 56 hours. Use beyond the yearly maximum need not be allowed.
- Agency
- Nebraska Department of Labor
Rules by employer size
| Employer size | Rate | Yearly limit | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 or more employees | 1 hr per 30 | 56 hrs | Yes |
| 11 to 19 employees | 1 hr per 30 | 40 hrs | Yes |
Example with dates
Suppose someone at an employer in the "11 to 19 employees" group starts on Monday, February 1, 2027 and works 24 hours every week. At 1 hour per 30 hours worked, that's 0.80 hours a week, and the first year comes to 40 hours, with the accrual cap of 40 hours reached on Monday, January 17, 2028.
- By Saturday, May 1, 2027: 9.60 hours
- By Sunday, August 1, 2027: 20 hours
- By Tuesday, February 1, 2028: 40 hours
Your own figures: open the calculator set to Nebraska.
What the time covers
The employee's own illness or health care needs, care of a family member (including anyone related by blood), and public health closures or communicable-disease isolation.
Unused hours at year end
Employers must let employees carry over unused sick time to the following year, with no maximum carryover.
Front-loading instead of accrual
Allowed if the front-loaded amount is at least what the Act requires.
Smaller employers and who is covered
The Act applies to employers with 11 or more employees. Individuals in seasonal or temporary agricultural employment and individuals under 16 are exempt.
Notices, posters and statements
Employers were to give employees written notice of the Act by September 15, 2025, and must display a poster with the same information.
Worth knowing
The Department of Labor's FAQ was revised October 31, 2025. Full-time, part-time and temporary employees are all covered.
Not stated on the official pages we read: a waiting period, local ordinances.
Official sources
- Paid Sick Time Frequently Asked Questions (Nebraska Department of Labor) (checked November 2026)
Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A city ordinance, union contract or written policy can give employees more.
Questions employers ask
How much paid sick leave do employees earn in Nebraska?
1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked; accrual begins after 80 hours of consecutive employment. Employers with 11 to 19 employees must allow accrual of up to 40 hours a year; employers with 20 or more, up to 56 hours. Use beyond the yearly maximum need not be allowed.
Does unused sick time carry over to the next year in Nebraska?
Employers must let employees carry over unused sick time to the following year, with no maximum carryover.
Can a Nebraska employer front-load sick leave instead of tracking accrual?
Allowed if the front-loaded amount is at least what the Act requires.
Do small employers in Nebraska have to provide it?
The Act applies to employers with 11 or more employees. Individuals in seasonal or temporary agricultural employment and individuals under 16 are exempt.
What can Nebraska sick leave be used for?
The employee's own illness or health care needs, care of a family member (including anyone related by blood), and public health closures or communicable-disease isolation.
All states: paid sick leave laws by state · Minnesota · Nevada