Missouri’s paid sick leave requirements are set to end August 28. Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed a bill into law that will overturn the mandated one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
The requirements are part of Proposition A, which nearly 58% of Missouri voters approved last November.
Rep. Sherri Gallick, R-Belton, sponsored the bill to repeal the mandate.
“There are a lot of small businesses and large businesses that have very little cash flow,” Gallick said. “And now with the minimum wage rising, they’re hanging on by a thread. It’s really easy for people to say, hey, I want that when you don’t know the logistics or the complexity of the situation.”
Her bill will keep the voter-approved $15-an-hour minimum wage increase that is set for 2026.
“Now it’s $13.75,” said Gallick. “It goes to $15 within a year and a day – that’s a 21.9% increase. And that’s the biggest thing to a lot of these smaller businesses is they don’t have deep pockets. You know, there’s cash flow. There’s insurance. There’s all these bills and the logistics of owning a business and then you throw this on top of that, when a lot of times it wasn’t planned for, it can be a daunting thing to a business.”
Gallick told Missourinet she has heard from many businesses who oppose the paid sick leave requirements.
“Small restaurants in rural communities, because they are having a hard time right now,” said Gallick. “But really, it’s even big business because big a lot of big business has to report to shareholders. You know, there’s a bottom line and you have to budget your money.”
Gallick said her concern is to keep businesses open and growing.
“I want people to make as much money as they can,” she said. “But every worker is not the same. And every job is not the same. Just…one size doesn’t fit all.”
After Kehoe signed HB 567 into law, the campaign that led Proposition A last November responded.
“So many people are for the first time experiencing the relief of paid sick leave. We know people drive the economy—it’s our labor, skills, spending and contributions that build prosperity for all. Not only is this a slap in the face to workers asking for an opportunity to earn paid sick leave, it’s an insult to over 57% of Missourians who voted for Proposition A in November,” said Missouri Jobs with Justice.
The group says it remains hopeful that Missouri businesses will “demonstrate their dedication to fairness and ensure that their business reflects the best values of America by keeping or adopting paid sick leave policies.”
“Proposition A should not have been messed with at all by politicians in Jefferson City or their corporate lobby buddies- all of whom testified that they have this benefit. This makes our workplaces and communities less safe,” said Richard Von Glahn, Policy Director of Missouri Jobs with Justice.
A campaign is gearing up to ask Missouri voters in 2026 to put paid sick leave requirements into the state Constitution.
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