Nebraska break, overtime and sick leave rules

Meal and rest breaks, overtime and paid sick leave in Nebraska, in plain words. Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Not legal advice.

The rules in Nebraska#

Meal breaks: No general meal break rule for adults. Narrow exception: assembly plants, workshops and mechanical establishments must give a 30‑minute off‑premises lunch in each 8‑hour shift unless a collective bargaining or written agreement provides otherwise.
Rest breaks: No general paid rest break rule for adults.
Overtime: No state overtime law of its own; overtime for covered employees follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek).
Paid sick leave: Yes, since October 1, 2025 (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act). Employers with 11 or more employees must let employees accrue 1 hour per 30 hours worked, starting after 80 hours of employment. Employers with 11 to 19 employees must allow at least 40 hours a year; 20 or more employees, at least 56 hours.

Nebraska adds no break or overtime rules of its own, so the federal rules are the whole of it. On every shift Oh! Thyme checks:

Overtime after 40 hours in a workweek, worked out week by week
Every punch and break, to the minute
Sick leave balances build from approved hours at the rate set for each person, such as 1 hour per 30 worked, stop at their cap, and come down when time off is approved.