Missouri Employee Handbook Requirements

Missouri's employment law landscape shifted significantly with the passage of Proposition A in November 2024, which increased the state's minimum wage and established mandatory paid sick leave for the first time. The minimum wage rose to $13.75 in 2025 and is scheduled to reach $15.00 by January 2026, with annual CPI adjustments thereafter. The paid sick leave requirement, also part of Proposition A, requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide up to 56 hours of paid sick leave per year, while smaller employers must provide up to 40 hours.

The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age (40-70), and disability, applying to employers with six or more employees. In 2017, the legislature amended the MHRA to raise the standard for discrimination claims, requiring plaintiffs to show that a protected characteristic was the "motivating factor" in adverse employment actions. Missouri does not have explicit sexual orientation or gender identity protections at the state level.

Missouri's economy is driven by agriculture, manufacturing (particularly automotive and aerospace in the St. Louis region), healthcare, financial services, and logistics. Kansas City and St. Louis serve as major economic centers, with Kansas City also subject to local employment ordinances. Employers should be particularly attentive to the new Proposition A requirements, as implementation details continue to be clarified.