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Nebraska Labor Laws 2025

Nebraska has labor protections including a minimum wage on track to reach $15 by 2026, meal break requirements for certain industries, and Right to Work protections enshrined in the state constitution.

Important: Nebraska's minimum wage increases to $13.50 in 2025 and $15.00 in 2026. After 2026, it will adjust annually based on inflation.

Minimum Wage

Nebraska has a state minimum wage that exceeds federal law and will increase to $15 by 2026.

Key Requirements

  • Current minimum wage: $13.50 per hour (as of January 1, 2025)
  • Scheduled increase: $15.00 (2026)
  • Tipped employees: $2.13/hour cash wage (with tip credit to reach minimum)
  • After reaching $15, will adjust annually based on Consumer Price Index
  • Applies to all employers covered by FLSA

Additional Resources

Overtime

Nebraska follows federal overtime requirements under the FLSA with no additional state requirements.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • Standard FLSA exemptions apply (executive, administrative, professional)
  • No state-specific overtime laws beyond federal requirements
  • Workweek is seven consecutive 24-hour periods

Additional Resources

Meal and Rest Breaks

Nebraska requires meal breaks for assembly plant, workshop, and mechanical establishment employees.

Key Requirements

  • Meal break: 30-minute break for shifts over 8 hours (assembly plants, workshops, mechanical establishments)
  • Break must be during a reasonable time
  • Does not apply to all industries or employers
  • No state law requiring rest breaks
  • If breaks are voluntarily provided, short breaks must be paid

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

Nebraska has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Employees must be paid at least once per month
  • Payment must be made on regular paydays designated by employer
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next regular payday or within 2 weeks, whichever is sooner
  • Certain wage deductions require written authorization
  • Direct deposit allowed with employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Child Labor

Nebraska has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Work permits (school release) required for minors under 16 during school hours
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: No hour restrictions but hazardous occupation restrictions apply
  • Minors under 16 cannot work before 6am or after 10pm (midnight in summer)

Additional Resources

Right to Work

Nebraska is a "Right to Work" state with constitutional protection.

Key Requirements

  • Employees cannot be required to join a union as a condition of employment
  • Employers cannot require union dues or fees as a condition of employment
  • Protected by Nebraska Constitution Article XV, Section 13-15
  • Does not prohibit unions or collective bargaining
  • Constitutional protection makes it difficult to overturn

Additional Resources

Scheduled Minimum Wage Increases

Nebraska's minimum wage will increase incrementally until reaching $15:

2024

$12.00/hour

Previous rate

2025

$13.50/hour

Current rate

2026+

$15.00/hour

Then annual CPI adjustments

Limited Meal Break Requirements

Nebraska's meal break law applies only to specific types of workplaces:

  • Covered workplaces: Assembly plants, workshops, and mechanical establishments
  • Requirement: 30-minute meal break for shifts over 8 hours
  • Does not apply to retail, restaurants, or office workers
  • No state requirement for rest breaks for any employees

Nebraska Constitutional Right to Work

Nebraska has strong Right to Work protections in its state constitution:

  • Protected by Nebraska Constitution Article XV, Sections 13-15
  • Workers cannot be compelled to join a union or pay union dues
  • Constitutional protection makes it more difficult to overturn than statutory law

Final Wage Payment Timing

Nebraska requires prompt payment of final wages:

Final wages must be paid by the next regular payday or within 2 weeks of separation, whichever comes sooner.

This applies whether the employee quits or is discharged. Employers should ensure payroll systems can accommodate this requirement.

Navigate Nebraska's Evolving Wage Requirements

Rightwork automatically applies scheduled minimum wage increases, manages industry-specific break requirements, and ensures compliance with Nebraska's labor laws.

Learn More About Rightwork