Voters in Missouri recently passed a ballot measure (Proposition A) requiring employers to provide paid sick leave. It is scheduled to go into effect on May 1, 2025.
The number of required paid sick leave hours depends on the employee count:
- 15+ employees: 56 hours of paid sick leave per year
- 14 or fewer employees: 40 hours of paid sick leave per year
Some employees are exempt, including those covered by a collective bargaining agreement that was in effect as of November 5, 2024.
Paid sick leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. Up to 80 hours must be able to be carried over. However, the law mandates that an employer may limit usage to the max number of hours granted during a calendar year.
The accrued time can be used for:
- Treatment of an employee or family member’s physical or mental illness, condition, or injury
- Seeking a medical diagnosis or care for an employee or their family member
- Absences related to sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence
- If the business or place of care/school of a child is closed due to a public health emergency
Family members include immediate members, domestic partners, foster children, legal wards, or others for whom the employee is a legal guardian or foster/adoptive parent.
An employee must make a request to use their earned paid sick leave orally, in writing, via an electronic method, or another method that is acceptable to the employer. It should include the expected duration and made in advance (if possible).
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
