Missouri voters have approved Proposition A, which enacts a new statewide paid sick leave law to take effect on May 1, 2025, unless there are legal challenges or issues with official results certification by December 10, 2024. The law provides benefits to all private employers in Missouri, with certain exceptions such as employees involved in charitable, non-profit activities, foster parents, employees of retail or service business with annual gross sales under $500,000, and incarcerated individuals.

Eligible employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave per every 30 hours worked from May 1, 2025. The total paid sick leave usage per year is capped at 56 hours for companies with at least 15 employees and at 40 hours for other employers. Unused earned paid sick leave may be carried over to the next year, up to 80 hours.

Employers are required to provide written notice to employees about the law within 14 calendar days after employment starts or after April 15, 2025, whichever is later. Sick leave requests can be made orally, in writing, or electronically. For leave times exceeding three workdays, employers may ask for reasonable documentation.

However, employers are prohibited from asking employees to find replacements for the duration of their absence and details of any illness. Record keeping documenting hours worked and earned paid sick time taken for at least three years is required to monitor legal compliance.

Employers with existing paid leave policies that meet or exceed the requirements of Proposition A need not provide additional leave. However, they still need to comply with the new law’s notification, documentation, and carryover/payout mandates. Consulting with an attorney is recommended to fully understand and comply with these new regulations.

For help in understanding how these changes may affect Sick Leave and other aspects of employee benefits, individuals in California may want to seek information directly from the State’s various departments. On the website eddcaller.com, one can find valuable insights on how to contact edd, get in touch with paid family leave, or reach an agent at edd. This resource provides comprehensive information on new laws and provisions and is an excellent starting point to navigate through changes that may affect you or your employees.