Missouri Employment Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Missouri employment attorneys who handle MHRA discrimination, wage, retaliation, and wrongful-termination claims for workers across St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, and Independence. Whether you're facing a healthcare termination, a manufacturing retaliation, or a non-compete dispute, we'll match you with the right attorney — at no cost.

File with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) within 180 days of the discriminatory act under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 213.075. MCHR has a work-share with the EEOC. After investigation or right-to-sue, you have 90 days to file in court.
Senate Bill 43 (effective August 28, 2017) made several major changes: tightened the causation standard to "motivating factor" (from "contributing factor"), eliminated most individual liability for managers, imposed damage caps based on employer size, and added a business-judgment defense. These changes generally made MHRA claims harder to win and lower-value.
MHRA covers race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age (40-70), and disability. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but Title VII covers both per Bostock. Some Missouri cities (St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia) have local fairness ordinances.
Yes, if reasonable in time, geography, and scope and tied to a legitimate protectable interest. Missouri courts permit blue-pencil reformation. Adequate consideration is required (continued at-will employment may suffice).
Missouri's minimum wage is $12.30/hour as of January 2024, under Proposition B (passed in 2018). Tipped employees may receive 50% of the minimum wage if tips bring the total to the full minimum.
No. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 287.780 prohibits retaliation for filing workers' comp claims. Damages include reinstatement and damages.
Not without legal review. MHRA (post-2017) caps damages but claims still valuable. Federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA / FLSA / FMLA remain available. ADEA releases (40+) require 21 days to consider and 7-day revocation.

Why Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Missouri?

The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 213.010 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age (40-70), and disability at employers with 6+ employees. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but covered federally under Title VII per Bostock. Charges are filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) within 180 days. 2017 amendments (SB 43) significantly tightened the MHRA — narrowed the causation standard to require that the protected class was the 'motivating factor' (rather than 'contributing factor'), capped damages, and limited individual liability. Missouri is at-will with a public-policy exception (Fleshner v. Pepose Vision Institute). Non-competes are evaluated under a reasonableness test; Missouri courts permit blue-pencil reformation. Missouri minimum wage is $12.30/hour (2024) under Proposition B; overtime under federal FLSA. Missouri has no state paid sick or family leave.

When Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Missouri?

Our network includes Missouri employment attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Employment Cases in Missouri

From the moment you connect with a Missouri employment attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Missing the 180-day MCHR filing deadline
Signing a severance release without consulting an attorney
Talking to HR without documenting in writing afterward
Not preserving emails, Slack, and texts before being locked out
Posting about the dispute on social media
Accepting a final paycheck waiver without legal review

Common Missouri Employment Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Missouri Employment Attorneys Cost?

33%

Typical starting contingency fee — you pay nothing unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Missouri employment attorneys work on contingency or hybrid arrangements — typically 33%–40% of recovery. MHRA, Missouri Wage Statute, and federal employment statutes shift attorney fees to the employer when the worker prevails.

What Can Your Missouri Employment Compensation Include?

Back Pay
Lost wages and benefits from termination to judgment under MHRA and federal law. Uncapped.
Front Pay
Future lost earnings when reinstatement isn't feasible.
Compensatory Damages
Emotional distress and out-of-pocket losses. Federal Title VII / ADA cap $50K–$300K. MHRA (post-2017) caps compensatory damages under § 213.111 based on employer size in a manner similar to federal Title VII.
Punitive Damages
Available under MHRA for outrageous conduct (subject to MHRA cap). Federal Title VII / ADA punitives subject to federal cap.
Liquidated Damages
Missouri Wage Statute (§ 290.527): liquidated damages for unpaid wages. FLSA: doubles unpaid wages. ADEA: doubles back pay for willful violations.
Attorney Fees and Costs
Prevailing employees recover reasonable attorney fees under MHRA, Missouri Wage Statute, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and FMLA.
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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.