Election 2024: Omaha business owners react to paid sick leave measure passed in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – At Nodest Plants near 24th and Harney, you’ll find Shannon Beck doing what she loves.

“Just giving everybody the confidence to care for their house plants,” Beck said.

Beck enjoys running her small business along with her four employees that work here. With limited helping hands, she admits scheduling can be tough, but she always provides paid sick leave.

“It doesn‘t affect me that much at all for my employees to accumulate one hour every 40 hours,” Beck said. “That’s easy.”

Beck also thinks it‘s the right thing to do and is in full support of a measure passed in Nebraska’s general election Tuesday. It gives the right for all employees in the state to earn paid sick time off. Those who work at a company with 20 or more employees can earn up to 56 hours annually. For smaller companies, like Nodest with less than 20 employees, it’s up to 40 hours per year.

While some small business owners see the new measure as something exciting others like Alfie Cascio see it as a concern. Cascio runs his small family businesss, Cascio’s Steakhouse. He’s worried the new requirement will hurt his business.

“I figured it out that it‘s going to be about a $20,000 dollar year uprise for us,” Cascio said. “So, we’re going to have to adjust a little bit.”

A total of 35 employees work at the steakhouse. Cascio gives vacation time to some of his full time and salaried workers. He said he’s also worried about how people will use their paid sick time.

“People saying their sick when they‘re really not,” Cascio said. “This is especially during the holidays and times when we’re really busy.”

Other business owners like Katina Talley, who runs Sweet Magnolia‘s Bake Shop, see Cascio’s point. However, she believes paid sick leave is good for business.

“I think overall it not only provides steady circumstances for your workers, but it also makes your place of employment attractive,” Talley said.

Under the paid sick leave measure, employees will have to work 30 hours to earn each hour of paid sick leave.

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