The Paid Sick Leave Initiative
The object statement on the circulating petition was: “The object of this petition is to enact a statute to provide eligible employees the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs, to entitle those employed by employers with fewer than 20 employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of earned paid sick time per year, to entitle those employed by employers with 20 or more employers to accrue and use up to 56 hours of earned paid sick time per year, to specify conditions for accruing and using earned paid sick time, to prohibit retaliation against an employee for exercising rights granted under the statute, to adopt certain notice and documentation requirements, and to establish enforcement powers and a civil cause of action for violations of the statute.”
Read the full proposed ballot language.
How It Impacts Survivors
The Paid Sick Leave Initiative would require employers to provide paid sick leave to eligible employees.
An estimated 1.4 million Nebraskans experience intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime [1]. After these traumatic events, survivors need time to heal and access essential services like medical care, counseling, and legal support.
Paid sick leave allows survivors the flexibility to prioritize their well-being and focus on recovery without worrying about lost income or job security.
The impact of violence extends beyond the survivor. Family and friends also need time and flexibility to support their loved ones.
Providing paid sick leave to employees helps create a supportive workplace for survivors. A vote for 436 is a vote supporting survivors’ recovery and continued well-being.
How It Prevents Violence
Poverty, financial stress, and low income are associated with an increased the risk of intimate partner violence [2]. Financial stress may increase the potential for relationship conflict and dissatisfaction, which are strong predictors of intimate partner violence. Additionally, financial instability can increase financial dependence on a potential perpetrator.
By supporting economic stability, paid sick leave can also prevent intimate partner violence. A vote for 436 is a vote to prevent violence from happening in the first place.
Source
