Missouri’s paid sick leave law was approved by voters on November 5, 2024. Workers in Missouri will be able to earn and use paid sick time under the law beginning on May 1, 2025.
1. What will the Missouri Paid Sick Time law do?
It will give workers paid sick time which can be used:
- To recover from physical/mental illness, injury, or health conditions;
- To seek medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care;
- To care for a family member recovering from a physical/mental illness, injury, or health condition or in need of medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care;
- When the worker’s place of business is closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency or to care for a child whose school or place of care has been closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency;
- When the worker needs to self-isolate or care for a family member because a public health official or health care provider has determined that the worker’s or family member’s presence in the community would jeopardize the health of others because of exposure to a communicable illness (whether diagnosed or not); or
- To address certain needs that may arise if the worker or the worker’s family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
2. Will I be covered?
If you work as an employee in Missouri, you will probably be covered, whether you are a full-time, part-time, or temporary worker. However, the law will not cover the following:
certain camp workers employed for less than four months in a year; certain individuals employed by an education conference center operated by an educational, charitable, or nonprofit organization; certain students whose employment/earnings qualify them for tuition/housing/education fee breaks; certain domestic workers employed in a private home on an occasional basis (for under 6 hours on each occasion); babysitters working on a casual basis; certain casual employees such as golf caddies and newspaper deliver workers; workers employed by a retail or service business whose annual gross volume sales is under $500,000; certain small-circulation newspaper employees; federal employees; Missouri state and local government employees; and certain railroad workers subject to federal law.
3. How much paid sick time will I be able to earn?
You will earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. If you work for an employer with 15 or more employees, you will be able to use up to 56 hours of paid sick time per year. If you work for an employer with fewer than 15 employees, you will be able to use up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year.
4. What if my work or my child’s school or daycare is closed for a health emergency?
You will be able to use your paid sick time if your place of business is closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency or to care for a child whose school or place of care has been closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency.
5. Which of my family members are covered by the law?
Under the law, you will be able to take paid sick time to care yourself, your spouse or domestic partner, your or your spouse/domestic partner’s child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, or an individual for whom you are responsible for providing or arranging health or safety-related care.
6. What if I already have paid leave or paid time off?
If you already get any paid leave (vacation, paid time off, etc.) that you can use as paid sick time for the same purposes and under the same conditions as paid sick time under this Missouri law and it’s at least the same amount you would earn under this law, the law does not give you any additional paid time off.
7. When can I begin using my paid sick time?
You will start earning paid sick time at the start of employment or May 1, 2025, whichever is later. You will be able to use your paid sick time as you earn it.
8. Will I need a doctor’s note for paid sick time under the law?
Your employer will only be able to require reasonable documentation–such as a doctor’s note–for paid sick time of 3 or more consecutive workdays (and the note does not have to specify your illness).
If you are using paid sick time of 3 or more consecutive workdays for “safe time” purposes, related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you may be required to provide one of the following types of documentation of your choice: a police report; a written statement from a victim service provider affirming receipt of services from a victim’s aid organization; a court document showing legal action related to the “safe time” purpose; or your own written statement saying that your sick leave was for a qualifying purpose.
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may enforce this law. It is possible that a local government may be able to enforce this law, but is not required to do so.
All covered workers will be protected against being fired or punished for using or requesting sick or safe time under this law. If you have a problem—or want more information—contact A Better Balance’s free legal helpline here or at 1-833-NEED-ABB.
Please note that this fact sheet does not represent an exhaustive overview of the paid sick time law described, and it does not constitute legal advice. It is possible that additional provisions not described in this fact sheet may apply to a worker’s specific circumstances or category of employment.
For the full list of state and local paid sick time laws, visit here.
