Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 55-501 to 55-507 were enacted by the Nebraska State Legislature on April 5, 2007.  Family Military Leave is leave requested by an employee who is the spouse or parent of a person called to military service lasting 179 days or longer, with the State or United States pursuant to the orders of the Governor or President of the United States.  This leave can be taken during the time the federal or state deployment orders are in effect.

Covered employers: If the employer employs between 15 and 50 employees, the employer shall provide up to 15 work days of unpaid leave. If the employer employs more than 50 employees, the employer shall provide up to 30 work days of unpaid leave. The State employs more than 50 employees, so employees may request up to 30 work days of leave. The number of days granted are at the discretion of the employer.

Eligible Employee: An eligible employee has been employed by the same covered employer for at least 12 months and has been employed for at least 1250 hours during that 12 month period immediately preceding the commencement of leave. Employee is the spouse or parent of a person called to military service lasting 179 calendar days or longer.

Notice: The employee shall give at least 14 calendar days of notice of taking leave if the leave will consist of five or more consecutive work days.

Employee Rights: When the leave ends, the employee must be restored to the position previously held or to a position with equivalent seniority status, benefits, pay, etc., except when the employer proves the employee is not restored due to reasons unrelated to taking leave.

The employee may continue benefits, during leave, at the employee's expense. The employee's service date will be adjusted after 14 calendar days of unpaid leave.

The Act provides that the employee may negotiate with the employer, for the employer to maintain benefits at the employer's expense during the leave period. As the State had concluded collective bargaining when this Act was passed, for the purpose of benefits, employees taking Family Military Leave will be treated the same as other employees taking non-Family Medical Leave Act unpaid leave. The State contribution to health insurance will continue for the first nine work days of the leave. Taking Family Military Leave shall not result in the loss of benefits accrued before the leave started (treated similar to a leave of absence).

For Additional Information Contact the AS Employee Relations Division (William J. Wood 402-471-4106; Jeannie O'Meara 402-471-8292; or Gail Brolliar 402-471-4104.)