Missouri
Verified February 2026Missouri Human Rights Act
Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 213.010–213.137
Missouri does not have a state-level family or medical leave law that supplements the federal FMLA. Workers seeking job-protected leave for serious health conditions or caregiving must rely on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. To qualify, you must work for an employer with 50+ employees and have worked at least 12 months and 1,250 hours.
Missouri provides broader anti-discrimination protection than federal law through the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). The MHRA covers employers with 6 or more employees, lower than the federal ADA threshold of 15. This means more Missouri workers have state-level disability discrimination protections. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) enforces the law and investigates complaints.
A major recent development is Proposition A, approved by Missouri voters in November 2024 and effective May 2025. This law requires all employers to provide earned paid sick leave. Employees earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Small employers (fewer than 15 employees) cap accrual at 40 hours per year, while larger employers (15+ employees) cap at 56 hours per year. This can be used for physical and mental health conditions, medical appointments, and caring for family members.
Workers' compensation in Missouri covers mental health injuries that result from extraordinary and unusual workplace stress, though proving standalone mental-mental claims can be challenging. With Proposition A's paid sick leave now in effect, Missouri workers have significantly improved coverage compared to previous years, combining paid sick leave, the MHRA, and federal FMLA and ADA protections.
Employer Size
6+ employees
Leave Duration
N/A (no state leave law)
Paid Leave
Unpaid (job-protected)
Leave: Missouri does not have a state family or medical leave law. Federal FMLA is the primary source of job-protected leave. Proposition A (2024) requires paid sick leave for all employers, effective May 2025.
Anti-Discrimination: The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) covers employers with 6 or more employees, lower than the federal ADA threshold of 15 employees.
Additional Protections
Proposition A - Paid Sick Leave (2024)
Approved by Missouri voters in November 2024 and effective May 2025. Requires all employers to provide earned paid sick leave at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked. Caps at 40 hours (under 15 employees) or 56 hours (15+ employees) per year. Covers physical and mental health conditions.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 290.600 et seq.
Workers' Compensation - Mental Health Coverage
Missouri workers' compensation covers mental injuries resulting from extraordinary and unusual workplace stress. Standalone mental-mental claims are recognized but face a high burden of proof. The worker must show stress was extraordinary compared to normal working conditions.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 287.120
1. Request FMLA Leave (Federal)
Since Missouri has no state family/medical leave law, eligible employees follow federal FMLA procedures:
- Notify your employer at least 30 days in advance for foreseeable leave.
- If leave is unforeseeable, notify as soon as possible (usually same or next business day).
- Follow your employer’s usual notice procedures for requesting leave.
- Provide medical certification if requested (usually within 15 days).
2. Use Missouri Paid Sick Leave (Proposition A)
- You earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
- You can use sick time for physical or mental health conditions, medical appointments, or caring for a family member.
- Your employer cannot retaliate against you for using earned sick time.
- If your employer denies sick time or retaliates, file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Labor.
3. File a Disability Discrimination Complaint
- Verify your employer has 6+ employees and the incident is within 180 days.
- File a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights online, by mail, or in person.
- MCHR will investigate and attempt conciliation if it finds probable cause.
- If conciliation fails, you may receive a right-to-sue letter to pursue the claim in court.
Note: Filing with MCHR automatically cross-files with the federal EEOC through a work-sharing agreement.
Important Deadlines
- 30 days - FMLA advance notice for foreseeable leave
- 180 days - Deadline to file a discrimination complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights
- 300 days - Deadline to file with the federal EEOC (extended because MCHR exists as a local agency)
- 30 days - Workers' comp injury must be reported to employer
- 2 years - Statute of limitations for workers' compensation claims
Official Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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