Employee Discipline: Missouri

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Authors: Jason Janoski and Alan L. Rupe, Kutak Rock LLP

Summary

• Missouri law provides for whistleblower and retaliation protections. See Retaliation Concerns.
• Employers should guard against any discriminatory practices in the disciplinary process. See Discrimination Concerns.
• Missouri employers may not discharge any employee based on his or her wage garnishment for any one indebtedness. See Wage Garnishment.
• Missouri law requires employers to post certain notices regarding employee rights. See Notice Posting.
• Missouri law protects employees who have certain types of absences from work. See Absences.
• Missouri law protects employees from discrimination based on certain off-duty activities. See Lawful Behavior Outside Work.
• Missouri law allows for the concealed carry of firearms, but employers may prohibit the practice under certain circumstances. See Weapons in the Workplace.
• Both the US and Missouri State Constitutions protect Missouri employees from unreasonable government searches. See Employer Searches.
• Missouri employers may discipline employees for alcohol and drug use at the workplace. See Drug and Alcohol Use.
• Missouri employers should use caution when disciplining employees based on criminal behavior outside of the workplace. See Criminal Behavior.
• Missouri is a one party consent state. Missouri statutes only address intercepting wire communications. See Recording Meetings.
• Employers may guard against workplace theft through the use of restrictive covenants. See Noncompete Agreements.
• Missouri courts recognize employee defamation claims. See Defamation Concerns.
• Certain public employers must follow statutory procedures when suspending or terminating employees. See Discipline of Certain State Employees.