Paid Sick Leave and $15 Minimum Wage Are Coming to Missouri

Author: Michael Cardman, Brightmine Senior Legal Editor

November 6, 2024

Missouri voters have approved a ballot proposition that will raise the state minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick leave.

Proposition A won by a 58-42 margin, according to unofficial results.

Missouri's Secretary of State will announce the official results no later than December 10.

Proposition A requires employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave accrual for every 30 hours worked. Small employers with fewer than 15 employees will be required to provide 40 hours of paid sick leave per year, and large employers with 15 or more employees will be required to provide 56 hours of paid sick leave per year.

Employees will begin accruing leave at the start of employment or May 1, 2025, whichever is later. They will be entitled to use leave as soon as it is accrued.

Employers must provide paid sick leave for several reasons, including:

  • The mental or physical illness of an employee or an employee's family member;
  • Preventative medical care for an employee or an employee's family member;
  • A public health emergency that results in the closure of the employee's place of business or the employee's child's school or day care facility; and
  • Absences necessary due to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. 

Minimum Wage

Proposition A also will raise the minimum wage from $12.30 to:

  • $13.75 per hour, effective January 1, 2025; and
  • $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2026.

Annual inflation adjustments will resume, effective January 1, 2027.