Missouri’s Paid Sick Leave Law Takes Effect May 1, 2025: What Employers Need to Do Now

This article is from The National Law Review: https://ow.ly/5SFp50Vx5Um As the effective date of Missouri Proposition A’s earned paid sick time provisions approaches, employers across the state must take immediate action to ensure compliance. Beginning May 1, 2025, most Missouri employers will be required to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a carryover cap of 80 hours per year.

Despite pending litigation and legislative efforts that may eventually alter some provisions of the law, these challenges are unlikely to impact the May 1 effective date or the associated notice and poster deadlines. Now is the time for employers to review policies, prepare communications, and post required materials.

Who Is Covered?

Proposition A applies to nearly all Missouri employees, including:

• Full-time

• Part-time

• Temporary workers

Only limited exceptions apply.

Key Compliance Deadlines

📅 April 15, 2025 – Mandatory Employee Notice

Employers must provide all Missouri employees with a written notice of the earned sick leave policy by April 15. This notice must:

• Be printed on a single sheet of paper

• Use a minimum 14-point font size

• Be accompanied by the company’s updated sick leave or PTO policy

✅ Tip: The Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations has made a standardized notice available for employer use.

📅 April 15, 2025 – Poster Display Requirement

Employers must also post a compliant notice in a conspicuous and accessible location at each Missouri workplace. The state’s Department of Labor has released an official poster for this purpose.

Failing to provide either the written notice or poster may expose employers to penalties or compliance investigations.

Litigation & Legislative Updates

⚖️ Missouri Supreme Court Challenge

A legal challenge was heard on March 12, 2025, arguing that Proposition A violates the state constitution by combining unrelated issues (minimum wage and sick leave) into one ballot measure. However, a decision could take several months, and the law remains in effect in the meantime.

🏛️ House Bill 567

A bill passed by the Missouri House on March 13, 2025, would repeal the paid sick leave provisions, delay the minimum wage increase, and eliminate future cost-of-living adjustments.

• The bill has moved to the Senate, where it had a public hearing on March 26 and is scheduled for an executive session on April 7.

• Even if passed, the changes would not take effect until August 28, 2025, meaning employers must still comply with Proposition A starting May 1.

  
  

Action Steps for Employers

With the implementation date rapidly approaching, Missouri employers should take the following steps:

1. Update Employee Handbooks and PTO Policies to include the new earned paid sick leave requirements.

2. Distribute the required written notice to all employees no later than April 15, 2025.

3. Post the mandatory workplace poster by the same date.

4. Train HR and managers on tracking sick leave accrual and usage under the new law.

5. Consult legal counsel if you operate in multiple states or have questions about overlap with existing leave programs.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Whether or not Proposition A is modified later this year, its sick leave provisions are set to become law in just a few weeks. Failure to comply could result in penalties, lost employee trust, and increased legal risk.

Stay ahead of the curve by taking steps now to align your policies, practices, and communications with the law as written.