There is no Missouri sick leave law for private employers: no Missouri law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. This guide gives the exact missouri sick leave law rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.
Rules verified against Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it.
Missouri Sick Leave Law at a Glance
| Law | No state paid-sick-leave mandate |
| What applies instead | The employer’s policy; the federal FMLA (unpaid, employers of 50 or more) |
| Statute | No statute |
In This Missouri Sick Leave Law Guide:
Missouri Sick Leave Law: The Rule
No Missouri law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more.
Missouri’s voter-approved paid sick leave law (Proposition A, 2024) took effect May 1, 2025 and was REPEALED by the legislature effective August 28, 2025; there is no Missouri sick-leave mandate today, and the status of hours accrued May-August 2025 is unresolved. Many employers offer sick days anyway; once promised in a written policy, they are enforceable as part of your pay.
What Missouri Sick Leave Law Lets You Use Leave For
Missouri currently has no statewide paid sick leave law. Voters approved earned paid sick time in Proposition A, but the legislature repealed it through HB 567 in 2025. Many workers may still qualify for unpaid, job-protected leave under the federal FMLA.
It covers your own serious health condition, caring for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition, and the birth or adoption of a child, if the employer is covered and you meet the eligibility rules.
Missouri Sick Leave Law at a Glance
Rules verified against Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Law | No state paid-sick-leave mandate |
| What applies instead | The employer’s policy; the federal FMLA (unpaid, employers of 50 or more) |
| Statute | No statute |
Accrual, Caps and Carryover Under Missouri Sick Leave Law
With no state sick leave law, notice and documentation rules generally come from the employer’s own written policy. For FMLA leave, the employer may require advance notice when the need is foreseeable and medical certification from a health care provider.
Paid or Unpaid Under Missouri Sick Leave Law
Unpaid unless the employer promises pay; the FMLA is unpaid by design.
Missouri Sick Leave Law and Retaliation
Missouri has no state sick-leave anti-retaliation provision now that the paid sick time law has been repealed. The federal FMLA makes it illegal for a covered employer to interfere with, deny or retaliate against a worker for using or asking for protected leave. Confirm your situation with the U.S. Department of Labor.
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Local Rules and Missouri Sick Leave Law
No city or county paid sick leave ordinance for private employers is known to be in effect in Missouri. Confirm with your city before relying on a local rule.
Other Missouri Sick Leave Law Rules to Know
Collective bargaining agreements can modify the rules, and new laws usually take effect on January 1 — check the effective date on this page.
Denied the leave you earned? The labor department enforces the sick-leave law for free.
Contact Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards
Missouri — the bottom line
- The missouri sick leave law does not exist for private employers — the handbook and the federal FMLA are the rules.
- Under the missouri sick leave law promised sick days in a written policy are still enforceable pay.
- The missouri sick leave law question is answered by your employer policy, not the statute book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paid sick leave required in Missouri?
No. Missouri has no paid-sick-leave mandate for private employers.
How much sick leave do I get under Missouri sick leave law?
Whatever the employer’s policy provides.
Which employers are covered by the Missouri sick leave law?
No employer is required to provide it.
Can I be fired for using sick leave in Missouri?
Missouri has no state sick-leave anti-retaliation provision now that the paid sick time law has been repealed.
When did the Missouri sick leave law take effect?
There is no such law.
Official Missouri Sources & Resources
- Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards: https://labor.mo.gov/dls/wage-hour
- Missouri statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=290
- Verified source: https://marketingpreview.mercer.com/content/dam/mercer-dotcom/migrated-assets/blogs/law-and-policy/2025/07/pdf-2025-roundup-state-accrued-paid-leave-mandates.pdf
- Verified source: https://www.ep.com/legal-and-compliance/sick-and-paid-leave-laws-update/
- Verified source: https://www.hubinternational.com/en-us/hub-resources/absence-management-bulletins/2025/11/2025-2026-state-leave-law-updates/
- Verified source: https://www.postercompliance.com/blog/paid-sick-leave-laws-by-state/
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This missouri sick leave law guide was last verified against official Missouri sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Missouri Workplace Rights Guides
- Missouri PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
- Missouri Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Missouri Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Missouri Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.