Nebraskans could decide on paid sick leave this November

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Paid sick leave for Nebraskans is one step closer to being on the ballot this November.

Supporters of the initiative turned in 138,000 signatures Thursday to the Secretary of State’s Office.

If at least about 86,000 of those signatures are valid, voters will get to decide the issue.

Rosa Pinto was one of those submitting signatures.

She said she was working at a manufacturing plant when she got the call that no mother wants to hear. Her 1-year-old daughter had low oxygen and was going to the hospital.

“I had to talk to my supervisor to see if I could leave to take care of my baby and be with her at the hospital,” Pinto said.

She said her supervisor asked her to wait until another person could cover the shift so they wouldn’t have to shut down her line.

“I felt like I was having to choose between my job or my daughter’s life,” Pinto said. “I left because it was my baby, but I did suffer consequences when I came back to work.”

She now advocates for others like her.

The amount of sick leave guaranteed under the law would depend on company size.

For businesses with fewer than 20 employees, workers could earn up to five days of paid sick leave per year.

For companies with 20 or more employees, workers would get up to seven days.

The requirement wouldn’t apply to union jobs or government positions.