Human resource professionals who must learn labor laws in Missouri can count on a variety of web-based resources written for legal and employment recruiting professionals in addition to the general public. While the statutes and regulations that government agencies base their policies on are a good foundation for knowing Missouri employment policy, you'll get a broader picture of the subject as well as practical advice on complying with state labor laws when you reach out to legal professionals specializing in the field.

Employment laws in Missouri, as anywhere else in the country, are subject to rapid change. Companies doing business in the state should encourage human resource staff to learn the basics of creating legally compliant employee management policies and to stay informed of changes to labor laws as part of their comprehensive Missouri labor and employment law education and training.

1. Start your research with official sources of Missouri labor laws.

2. Access online commentaries on Missouri employment law written by lawyers and other legal experts.

3. Participate in seminars to learn the latest challenges human resource professionals face in their efforts to comply with Missouri work laws.

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Educate yourself using the statutory sources of Missouri labor and employment law

Missouri state labor laws, as drafted by the state legislature, are in statutes that form the basis for the regulations and policies that the Department of Labor pursues.

I recommend: Check out the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website. You'll find educational information about what constitutes a valid complaint based on child labor laws or minimum wage laws and about changes to the minimum wage. Learn about recently passed employment laws through Missouri Revised Statutes.

Read educational articles by attorneys that offer insightful information on Missouri work laws

Articles that explain Missouri employment law and incorporate what the MO lawyers are saying about that law will provide your training program with educational material in the form of commentaries written for the public and other members of the legal community.

I recommend: Read the top 10 articles on Tim's Missouri Employment Law database to find out why employers must pay overtime and how to create a harassment-free work environment in your company. Labor Law Talk Blog explains Missouri minor labor law. The Poster Compliance Center is a source for updates on the minimum wage and other changes to Missouri employment laws.

Attend seminars addressing labor laws in MO

Seminars offer a superb educational opportunity since experts on Missouri employment laws speak at these seminars where you can also build relationships with other human resource managers faced with similar challenges presented by labor laws.

I recommend: Search for events sponsored by Oagletree Deakins that brief you on the current state of Missouri employment law and suggest strategies for managing your human resources department. Check out listings for Missouri employment law on Training and Seminars and the Missouri Bar websites.

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• •  As you advance in your Missouri labor and employment law education and training, you'll be able to draft employee handbooks as well as documents like severance agreements for your company.

Missouri Labor and Employment Law is necessary in order to protect the rights of Missouri employees. As a business owner, you must abide by and enforce every Missouri labor law. While the list of laws and requirements may seem overwhelming, many of them are common knowledge in today's business society. For starters, there are 3 crucial elements that you must be familiar with in regards to labor laws in Missouri:

1. Regulations for an employee's hours, overtime and child employment

2. Laws regarding an employee's wages

3. Employees' rights regarding dismissal from or quitting a job

In short, a work day, according to Missouri Labor and Employment Law, is 8 hours long. However, overtime is not based upon 1 day, but earned when an employee works more than 40 hours in one week. There is no law in Missouri that restricts the number of hours an employee can work.

You can't pay an employee less than the established minimum wage at the current time, and the established state minimum wage takes precedence over the federal rate. Be aware that you must provide your employees with 30 days posted notice if there is to be a reduction in their wages for any reason.

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Make yourself aware of the Missouri labor laws in their entirety

There is little you can do to protect yourself and your business if you don't thoroughly know all of the employment laws in Missouri. Keep abreast of any changes or amendments to the Missouri labor rights by reading your local newspaper regularly.

I recommend: Section XVIII of the Missouri Revised Statutes on labor and industrial regulations lists the labor laws in their entirety, including Workers' Compensation and Child Labor Law. Additionally, review the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Regulations' help page on labor laws, complete with frequently asked questions, to gain a better understanding Missouri work laws. Check HRhero.com's Missouri Employment Law Letter regularly for useful information on court findings and the current state of employment law.

Hang Missouri labor law posters within your business

Missouri employment law requires you, as an employer, to keep your employees informed of their rights. As part of that requirement, hang posters within your operation in a location that is easily visible to all employees. Basic employment law posters include information regarding Workers' Compensation law, the minimum wage, unemployment benefits and employment discrimination.

I recommend: Missouri Revised Statute 290.265 states that you must post, in clear view, information regarding minimum wage. Download posters at the website for the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Know the penalties for violating employment laws in Missouri

The penalty for violating any of the labor laws in Missouri is either a fine of no more than $500, up to 6 months in jail or both a fine and jail time for each violation. The prosecutor deems each day that a violation occurs as a separate offense, if he choses to do so. Staying informed of any changes will help you avoid such penalties. As stated in Missouri Revised Statute 290.335, if you do violate Missouri employment law, the state government must notify you, conduct an investigation and give you an opportunity to correct your mistake before prosecuting.

I recommend: Missouri Revised Statute 290.340 provides the specifics regarding penalties for violating Missouri State labor laws. To gain feedback and perspective on your situation, visit Labor Law Talk's forum on Missouri Labor Law and start a discussion thread with other business owners.

Hire a Missouri Labor and Employment Law Attorney

If the government informs you that you are in violation of Missouri labor law, you must protect your rights. Even if you intend on correcting you mistake, contact an attorney and get her opinion on your situation. Most attorneys will provide a consultation free of charge, with the option to hire them if your situation requires their assistance.

I recommend: The BMHM Find a Lawyer Database provides a lists of employment and labor law attorneys by towns and cities in Missouri. In the area of labor laws in MO, Reed & Nowogrocki, LLC provides legal services in the St. Louis area. Thornberry, Eischens & Brown, LLC is located in Kansas City and Les Boyle, LLC can assist you in Springfield.

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• •  When you contact an attorney who specializes in Missouri employment laws, ask for information on his experience, such as his win/lose ratio, number of past clients and years experience in the labor law field.

Knowing the basics of employment laws in Missouri can help you avoid common pitfalls that startup businesses are likely to make. These laws requiring certain standards for legal employment practices are far-reaching and apply to even small mom-and-pop operations.

Professional associations, lawyers and government agencies in the state work together so that businesses comply with Missouri employment law. At a minimum, that law requires businesses to provide certain kinds of compensation and prohibits them from hiring or firing employees based on race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Here’s a basic outline of Missouri labor and employment law for beginners.

1. Learn about the compensation standards that Missouri labor laws require businesses to offer.

2. Know how Missouri labor and employment law affects the organizational culture of your business.

3. Understand how labor laws in MO protect workers from unlawful termination.

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Know the insurance, compensation and benefits that Missouri work laws require employers to provide

Missouri employers are subject to a state minimum wage that is reviewed annually to ensure that it doesn't fall behind the cost of living indexes. Employers in the state also provide benefits under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. The state requires businesses to carry adequate compensation in the event workers are injured on the job.

I recommend: The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations explains its process for reviewing the state minimum wage. There’s a link to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 2009 at Missouri State University so you can learn an employer’s responsibilities under the law. Get more details on the state requirements for workers compensation insurance at WorkersCompensation.com.

Find out how Missouri employment laws are intended to promote safe working environments

As you study Missouri labor and employment law for beginners, you'll want to know state requirements for the kinds of posters you must display in your building. Missouri businesses work with the Eastern Missouri Laborers' Council to make sure that workers are not exposed to harmful conditions on the job. As in other states, Missouri labor laws encourage businesses to become proactive in eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination at work.

I recommend: Government Poster explains how Missouri businesses can be fully compliant with state posting requirements. Go to the Department of Labor’s website to find out how the OSHA program in Missouri provides workers with training and other resources to protect them while at work. TimsLaw explains the legal protections Missouri workers have against discrimination and the procedures they can follow to report violations of those rights.

Understand how Missouri labor law prohibits employers from wrongfully discharging workers

Missouri's businesses subscribe to the 'at will' doctrine of employment whereby employer and employee are able to terminate their relationship for any reason that is not based on discrimination. Missouri also wants employees to feel protected from employer retaliation should they ever need to report illegal behavior by their employers.

I recommend: Harris Dowell Fisher & Harris flesh out the doctrine of “at will” employment, particularly in terms of its impact on employee terminations. You can access several Missouri whistleblower laws at FindLaw to understand the legal protections employees have when they file claims against their employers based on illegal employment practices.

Missouri labor and employment law news and trends are of great interest to attorneys who practice employment law in Missouri. Employment law attorneys must keep track of the frequent changes in the law that relate to unions and laborers in Missouri. They also need to be familiar with the many procedures and forms related to labor and employment law that may change at any time. Attorneys also need to know what the public thinks about rulings on labor and employment law in Missouri. All of these highly volatile factors can change the way attorneys in labor law do their jobs.

News on employment laws in Missouri generally may be grouped according to the source of information. These include following three categories:

1. Independent sources of news on Missouri labor laws. They provide opinions, as well as hard news, on labor law from many different businesses, individuals and lobby groups. Independent news sources typically consist of blogs, magazines and newspapers.
2. Websites from the Missouri state government. These sites provide official procedures and rulings on Missouri labor law.
3. Labor lawyers. Attorneys that practice labor and employment law in Missouri frequently have inside news on labor law in Missouri.
   

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Study independent sources of news and trends on Missouri employment law

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on Missouri labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in Missouri.

I recommend: KSMU has a recent article on Missouri labor laws that relate to summer jobs for teenagers. The St. Louis Better Business Bureau offers a news center with recent business news, including employment news and trends.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on Missouri state labor laws

Missouri government websites are the best places to get the latest news about Missouri labor and employment law. A Missouri website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to Missouri labor and employment law.

I recommend: MO Labor Laws provides regular news updates and official information on labor law in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provides extensive resources for news on Missouri employment law.

Get inside news on Missouri work laws from attorneys in Missouri

Missouri lawyers who practice labor and employment law frequently have information on Missouri law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in Missouri.

I recommend: TimsLaw.com includes current rulings on Missouri labor and employment law. Holman Schiavone practices employment law in Missouri and provides regular news on employment and labor law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Missouri employment laws are generally guided by federal law, which set the standard work week to 40 hours in 1950. However, some lines of work may be an exception to the 40 hour work week maximum. For example, seasonal work, such as harvesting crops, can require laborers to work 72 hours in a week.