Key to remember:
Voters in Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska approve paid leave
11/20/2024
The leave can begin as early as 2025
What do these three states — Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska — have in common? They all had paid leave on their November ballots, and all passed. They will join the ranks of other states that require employers to provide paid leave. Below is a breakdown of each state's new requirements, helping employers get up to speed quickly.
Alaska paid sick leave
Effective July 1, 2025, employers with 15 or more employees must allow employees to accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
- Employers with fewer than 15 employees may limit the leave to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year.
- Employers with 15 or more employees may limit the leave to 56 hours of paid sick leave per year.
Employees would be entitled to use paid sick leave as it is accrued. They may take the leave for their own condition; to care for a family member; or due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Missouri paid sick time
Effective May 1, 2025, employees will earn an hour of paid sick time (PST) for every 30 hours worked.
- Employers with fewer than 15 employees may limit an employee's use of PST to 40 hours per year.
- Employers with 15 or more employees may limit an employee's use of PST to 56 hours per year.
Employees may use the leave as soon as it's accrued. They may take the leave for their own condition or preventive care; care for a family member; business or school/daycare closure due to a public health emergency; or due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
Effective October 1, 2025, employees will earn an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
- Employers with fewer than 20 employees must allow employees to accrue and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time each year.
- Employers with 20 or more employees must allow employees to accrue and use up to 56 hours of paid sick time each year.
Employees may use the leave as soon as it's accrued. They may take the leave for their own condition or preventive care, care for a family member, and business or school/daycare closure due to a public health emergency.
Employers with employees in Alaska, Missouri, or Nebraska will need to be aware of new employee leave provisions beginning in 2025.
This article was written by Darlene M. Clabault, SHRM-CP, PHR, CLMS, of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. The content of these news items, in whole or in part, MAY NOT be copied into any other uses without consulting the originator of the content.
The J. J. Keller LEAVE MANAGER service is your business resource for tracking employee leave and ensuring compliance with the latest Federal and State FMLA and leave requirements.