The Nebraska Legislature has been talking about a bill that would require paid sick leave for all employees. The Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA) opposes LB 493 for the following reasons:

• The bill requires paid sick leave for all employees, full and part-time, and will increase employee costs and restricts employer flexibility to tailor the jobs they provide to the needs and resources of their business.

• Part-time positions are designed to be flexible.
–Flexibility benefits employees by allowing them to work around educational, personal or family commitments.
–Part time positions are valuable in that they provide work experience for young workers or people entering a new career field.
–Part time work is often the first step that can lead to full time employment.

• Employers utilize part-time positions to hire exactly the amount help they need and to pay what they can afford.

Employers understand the compensation package they provide determines the employees they are able to attract. Whether they provide health insurance, vacation time, or put all their resources into higher wages.  Government mandates take these decisions away from the parties and impose a one size fits all regulation. Mandating paid sick leave increases the overhead cost of each employee. We all know that an increase in cost will decrease the employer’s ability to provide jobs and employment opportunities within our community.

For these reasons LIBA opposes LB 493 and encourages you to contact your state Senator.
I would like to invite you to become a LIBA member.  We have a luncheon on the third Monday of every month.   We average 180 business and community leaders who attend and we would like you to be one of them.  We have at least two other free networking events every month.  LIBA has several important committees that are standing up for small business every day.  We monitor the City Council and work on legislative bills at the state capitol to help foster a pro-business mindset.  And of course we work to try and keep your taxes and regulation to a reasonable level.  For more information on joining LIBA, please call me at (402) 466-3419.  Thank you and enjoy the spring weather!

 LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community.  If you have an interest in joining LIBA, please call me at 466-3419.  LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses.  We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.