Proposition A UPDATE: Minimum wage and paid sick leave
- AIM Team
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
By Ray McCarty, president & CEO, Associated Industries of Missouri
April 11, 2025 - No single issue in recent memory has caused as much concern among business owners and managers as the passage of Proposition A - the ballot measure that increased the minimum wage January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, and allowed inflation increases in future years; mandated paid sick leave for all businesses; and mandated employers allow employees to use the paid sick leave to address domestic violence and stalking situations, for absences due to government business closures (including government closures of schools); and much more.
Employers must notify employees on April 15 of their right to use the paid sick leave. At the same time, a lawsuit is pending in the Missouri Supreme Court asking the Court to overturn the law, and AIM is working with other business advocates to negotiate legislation that will address the most problematic parts of the law. A decision by the Missouri Supreme Court or passage of the legislation could impact whether employers are required to provide the paid sick leave or not.
The next regular date the Missouri Supreme Court is expected to issue decisions is April 15 and they are usually posted at 1:00 p.m. Because that is also the date that employers must notify employees, you may wish to consider adding an additional notice to the required poster developed by the Missouri Dept. of Labor (CLICK HERE FOR THE POSTER) stating something similar to the following:
"The paid sick leave requirement is the subject of litigation currently pending in the Missouri Supreme Court and legislation pending in the General Assembly. Employees' rights to such leave may be impacted by a decision in the case or passage of the legislation."
You may also wish to consider waiting until later in the day on April 15 to post the required notice in case the Supreme Court rules in our favor and voids the measure. There is no guarantee the Missouri Supreme Court will issue a decision on April 15. The Court may issue a decision at any time.
The paid sick leave requirement begins May 1, 2025, unless we are successful with the lawsuit or legislation. We will keep you posted. Be watching your newsletter on April 15 for an update and know Associated Industries of Missouri is working hard with other business groups to find a workable solution.