Ballot measures in Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska have been approved, requiring employers to offer paid sick leave to their employees.
Alaska’s Ballot Measure 1, known as the Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Initiative, passed with almost 57 percent of the vote. It mandates a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 and allows employees in companies with 15 or more employees to accrue up to 56 hours of paid sick leave annually. Smaller businesses with fewer than 15 employees must offer up to 40 hours of sick leave. The measure also includes protections for workers who decline to attend employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters.
Missouri voters approved Proposition A with nearly 58 percent in favor. This measure will raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, starting with an increase to $13.75 by 2025. Employers will also be required to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
In Nebraska, Initiative 436, the Paid Sick Leave Initiative, received strong support with 74 percent in favor. This initiative allows employees to accrue paid sick leave for personal or family health needs. Businesses with 20 or more employees must offer up to seven days per year, while smaller businesses provide up to five days.
Despite the approval of these measures, some small business owners in all three states have expressed concerns. Critics argue that paid sick leave requirements could complicate the competitive landscape, especially for smaller employers already balancing competitive wages and benefits.
