Missouri: Earned Paid Sick Time (EPST) Law Takes Effect May 1, 2025
Effective: May 1st, 2025
Missouri’s new Earned Paid Sick Time (EPST) law takes effect May 1, 2025, impacting employers of all sizes. Employers should prepare for accrual, usage, notice, and compliance requirements ahead of the deadline.
Who is Covered?
The law applies to most Missouri employees, except for some exemptions (e.g., employees of retail or service businesses with less than $500,000 in annual gross sales).
Accrual & Carryover:
Employees accrue 1 hour of EPST for every 30 hours worked (beginning May 1, 2025, or upon hire).
Exempt employees’ accrual can be based on 40 hours per week (or their regular hours if less).
Employers may frontload EPST at the start of each year.
Carryover limit: Employees may carry over up to 80 hours of unused EPST.
If frontloading: Employers can avoid carryover by paying out unused EPST (up to 80 hours) at year-end and providing a full EPST balance at the start of the new year.
Usage:
Employers with 14 or fewer employees: May cap use at 40 hours per year
Employers with 15 or more employees: May cap use at 56 hours per year
Employees can use EPST immediately upon accrual for:
Their own or a family member’s illness, injury, or preventive care
Workplace, school, or childcare closures due to a public health emergency
Caring for themselves or a family member exposed to a communicable disease
Reasons related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
Employer Requirements & Restrictions:
EPST must be provided in the smallest increment of time tracked by payroll (max 1 hour).
Employees cannot be required to find a replacement to cover their shift.
Employers cannot deny EPST use if a replacement worker isn’t found.
Documentation & Notice Requirements:
Documentation: Employers may request reasonable documentation if an employee uses EPST for three or more consecutive workdays.
Employee Notice: Employers must provide written notice of EPST rights to employees by April 15, 2025, or within 14 calendar days of hire (whichever is later). The notice must include:
EPST accrual details and usage rights
Anti-retaliation protections
Employees’ rights to file a civil action if their EPST rights are violated
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations contact information
Workplace Posting: If Missouri provides a model poster, employers must display it in a visible location.
Payout & Reinstatement:
No requirement to pay out unused EPST upon termination.
If an employee is rehired within nine months, previously unused EPST must be restored.
Action Items:
Review & update handbooks to include an EPST policy by May 1, 2025
Provide EPST notices to new hires & current employees by April 15, 2025
Monitor for a state-issued model poster and post it in the workplace
Ensure compliance with accrual, usage, and carryover rules
Get day-to-day updates on Missouri: Earned Paid Sick Time (EPST) visit the Vida HR Knowledge Center (Vida HR Clients Exclusive).
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