Worker Resources

Missouri workers have many state and federal protections on the job, including rights to minimum wage and overtime pay, the right to organize with coworkers, a safe workplace, and protection from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. These are brief summaries; the worker toolkits provide more detail.

• Minimum wage: In 2026, Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 per hour for employees covered by minimum-wage laws. Some exceptions apply.
• Overtime pay: Most employees must receive 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in one workweek. Eligibility rules and exceptions can vary, including for tipped workers.
• Tips: Tips belong to workers, not the employer, and total hourly earnings must still reach at least the minimum wage. Some tip pools are legal and others are not.
• Last paycheck: When a job ends, including after a firing, workers still have the right to receive their final paycheck on time. Missouri provides a written-demand process that may help workers obtain it quickly.
• Organizing: Employees may act together to demand better pay and safer working conditions. Employers may not retaliate against workers for protected organizing activity.
• Workers' compensation: A worker injured on the job may be entitled to employer-paid medical treatment from a provider chosen by the employer, wage-loss benefits, and other benefits. Report the injury to the employer in writing as soon as possible.
• A safe workplace: Workers have a federal right to a safe work environment and may raise safety concerns without unlawful retaliation.
• Freedom from discrimination and harassment: Employers may not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy, or age. Deadlines for discrimination claims can be short, so act quickly.
• Protection from retaliation: State and federal laws protect many workers who speak up about their own rights or their coworkers' rights.

If you believe your employer is withholding wages, document your hours, pay stubs, schedules, and messages. You may demand the unpaid wages in writing, report the issue to the Department of Labor, or consider a small-claims case depending on the amount. Speak with an employment attorney if a large amount is owed or the same problem may affect a group of workers. The Last Paycheck and Minimum Wage and Overtime toolkits provide additional guidance.

A firing can be unfair without being illegal. Missouri generally follows at-will employment, meaning a nonunion employee can usually be fired at any time for almost any reason. However, an employer may not fire someone for an unlawful reason, such as reporting wage theft or a workplace injury, or because of race, sex, or another protected characteristic. Employers rarely state an illegal reason directly, so the surrounding facts matter. If the circumstances seem suspicious, speak with an employment attorney promptly; filing deadlines may be short.

Most hourly workers and some salaried workers are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for each hour over 40 in a single workweek. Exceptions depend on factors such as job duties, pay, and the employer's annual revenue. If you are unsure whether you qualify, keep accurate records of your hours and pay, contact the Department of Labor, submit an intake request, or speak with an employment attorney.

If you were injured at work in Missouri, act quickly and keep records. The Injured at Work toolkit explains workers' compensation rights in more detail.

• Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after the injury.
• Follow workplace rules about safety equipment and post-injury alcohol or drug testing.
• Ask your employer where to obtain medical care. The employer must pay for authorized treatment but generally chooses the provider.
• Keep detailed notes about medical appointments and everyone you speak with.
• Track all work time missed because of the injury.
• Speak with an attorney if you are not receiving the medical care or benefits you need, or if you have questions.