On Election Day, Cornhusker voters also approved medical marijuana and rejected a measure that would have expanded abortion, instead approving a measure restricting abortions after about 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Voters in Nebraska on Tuesday approved a measure requiring all Nebraska businesses to provide employees with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. This new policy will go into effect on October 1, 2025.

“Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans” Initiative 436 qualified for the ballot in mid-August after a strong petition campaign funded largely by a national progressive group. The measure passed overwhelmingly, with nearly 75% voting in favor.

The measure requires employers to offer up to five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave per year for businesses with 20 or more employees.

The measure’s passage comes after multiple paid sick leave proposals failed repeatedly in the Nebraska Legislature. By 2023, 15 states and the District of Columbia offer some form of paid sick leave. according to health policy group KFF.

Nebraska Catholic ConferenceCatholics who advocated for the policy on behalf of the state’s bishops had urged consideration and consideration of the proposal.

“We encourage all Catholics to strongly consider the paid sick leave ballot measure proposal. Catholic social teaching places a strong emphasis on human dignity, the good of the family and the dignity of work,” Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, told CNA.

“It is important for Catholics to form their conscience correctly on these issues and to exercise their right to vote in the public interest.”

The paid sick leave policy is not specifically mentioned in the Church’s teachings. However, Summary of the Social Doctrine of the ChurchA 2004 document compiling the Church’s various teachings on work devotes an entire chapter to “from work to rest,” dealing primarily with the importance of employers giving workers the opportunity to observe Sabbath rest.

“Relaxing from work is a right. …As God ‘rested on the seventh day from all his work’ (Genesis 2:2), likewise men and women created in his image should have adequate rest and leisure to care for themselves. The document states that it will contribute to their families, cultural, social and religious lives.

“Public authorities have a duty to ensure that citizens are not deprived of time for rest and divine worship for reasons of economic productivity. “Employers have a similar obligation to their employees.”

On Election Day, Nebraska voters also approved medical marijuana and rejected a measure that would have expanded abortion; instead they approved a measure restricting abortions after about 12 weeks of pregnancy.

“Protect Women and Children” amendmentInitiative 434 would amend the state Constitution to ban abortions “in the second and third trimesters,” except in medical emergencies or when the baby is the result of rape or incest. The measure has roughly exceeded 55-45.

Meanwhile, voters rejected pro-abortion ballot measureInitiative 439 would enshrine in the state Constitution the “right” of a pregnant woman to have an abortion up to the point of viability or later to protect her health.