JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Just nine months after the approval of a voter-backed initiative to extend paid sick leave benefits in Missouri, the legislation will be officially revoked on Thursday when a bill authorized by Gov. Mike Kehoe comes into effect.
Beginning August 28, 2025, Missouri employers will not be obligated to provide paid sick leave, as House Bill 567 counteracts several elements of the paid sick leave outlined in Proposition A, which 57.5% of state voters supported last November.
When enacted on May 1, Missouri’s current paid sick leave law under Proposition A required private employers to offer one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, permitting employees to use accrued time for eligible circumstances.
These obligations end when the repeal takes effect on August 28.
Employees working an average of 40 hours per week since May 1 could accumulate up to 22 hours of paid sick leave. However, after August 28, any remaining paid sick leave will no longer be legally protected.
Under the temporary state paid sick leave policy, accumulated sick leave could be used for personal health issues, caring for a family member, public health emergencies, or addressing situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
With the impending repeal of guaranteed paid sick leave, employers in the state can decide to continue offering paid sick leave, revert to previous policies, or eliminate paid sick leave benefits altogether.
According to HB 567, among the provisions repealed in connection with Missouri’s current sick leave law include (but are not limited to):
- What conditions paid sick leave must be provided by employers
- Prohibited actions for employers and violations thereof
- Recordkeeping requirements
- Complaint and investigative procedures
- A right to a cause of action for retaliation
- Confidentiality of information
The bill also calls for changes to Missouri’s minimum wage law. While it keeps the state minimum wage at $15 per hour and extends it to public employers, it eliminates the annual cost-of-living adjustment that was previously tied to the Consumer Price Index.
