Missouri ends guaranteed sick leave for workers
A bill repealing Missouri’s guaranteed paid sick leave was signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe and is set to come into effect on August 28, 2025, as reported by The Guardian.
The original law that went into effect in May 2025, entitled employees to one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Under the repeal, any sick leave accrued since May 2025 must be used before the repeal date, giving the employees a 17-week period before any unused hours will no longer be valid.
For a full-time worker putting in 40 hours per week, this could amount to a maximum of 22 hours of paid sick leave before the policy is nullified.
The original measure had also included a plan for future minimum wage adjustments based on inflation, but this was also repealed as part of the new bill.
Labor advocates who had supported the law through a ballot initiative in 2024 saw this step as a setback while the Missouri Chamber of Commerce deemed it a significant victory.
Repeal backed by state, condemned by labor groups
The repeal was framed as efforts to boost economic growth by eliminating costly mandates, reducing imposed burdensome record-keeping, and preventing potential job losses.
The move was supported by both the Governor of Missouri and the state’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In contrast, labor groups including Missouri Jobs With Justice, a statewide worker advocacy coalition, opposed the repeal, arguing it took away protections meant to help parents who struggled to balance work and caregiving.
Missouri joins other states in scaling back voter-approved leave
Alongside Missouri, paid sick leave measures were also approved by voters in Alaska and Nebraska, but of the three states, only Alaska’s law has remained in effect since July 1, with no amendments made.
In Nebraska, the policy was revised by lawmakers ahead of its scheduled start in October 2025 to exempt small businesses with 10 or fewer employees and allow the withholding of leave for seasonal agricultural workers as well as minors aged 14 to 15.
Across the US, only 18 states and the District of Columbia (roughly a third of the country) legally require employers to provide paid sick leave for health-related absences.
Despite varying legal mandates across states, most employers offer paid sick leave voluntarily and as of 2024, 79% of private sector employees had access to paid sick leave benefits.
New repeal-proof measure may appear on 2026 ballot
Missouri’s repeal may not be final, as a new ballot initiative has been submitted to the secretary of state by Van Glahn, Policy Director of Missouri Jobs With Justice, with the goal of restoring the original worker protections.
As the new measure takes the form of a constitutional amendment, it could not be changed or overturned by the state legislature without a public vote.
A decision has not yet been made by supporters on whether to begin a petition drive to place it on the 2026 ballot.
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