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Missouri Employment Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Why might I not have ADA protection after being terminated due to health issues?

I was terminated from my job due to health issues that my employer was aware of, including cognitive decline, mental health distress, and occasional falls. My leave lasted from May 25, 2024, to March 1, 2025, during which I frequently communicated my conditions to my employer by phone and text. A... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Apr 4, 2025

If you were discharged due to your disability as you allege, you would have a potential ADA case. However, I think you posted this before and said you had a "potential" but not "firm" return-to-work date when the Employer filled your position. Your job was no longer protected by... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Missouri on
Q: Legal termination during medical leave with disabilities in Missouri?

I was terminated during a long-term leave of absence due to ongoing disabilities, including cervical vertebrae collapse (with surgery performed), falls, behavior and mood changes, declining cognitive skills, severe depression, and anxiety disorders. My former supervisor informed me that my ongoing... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Apr 3, 2025

Once you exhaust your FMLA, your job is no longer protected, and you can be let go. There is no prohibition against letting someone go simply because they are out on a leave of absence, whether or not it is related to a disability. Many employers take the position that failure to return to work... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Can I be fired for discussing coworker's rights under labor laws in Missouri?

Can my employer fire me for telling a coworker about their rights under labor laws after a discussion about pay issues? My coworker was having issues with their pay being messed up by our supervisor. During this discussion, I mentioned that my coworker should look into labor laws as they have... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Can I pursue a CNA license in Missouri after a neglect blacklist period and appeal?

I am in Missouri and was dismissed and blacklisted from obtaining a CNA license due to a neglect charge. After a meeting, the blacklist status remains for two years, and I have 20 days to appeal with a lawyer. Can I pursue getting my CNA license after the blacklist period, and what steps should I... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Business Law, Employment Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Contracts for Missouri on
Q: Seeking options after 10 months of workplace bullying and demotion.

I have experienced 10 months of workplace bullying, abuse, and harm at my current workplace, along with my partner. I was demoted from my position, socially isolated, and publicly and privately smeared. I've been focusing on healing and have been on leave from work for a month. Currently, a... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Is my employer's 6-minute grace period without pay legal in Missouri?

I'm a security guard, and my employer has me regularly work 5 minutes past my scheduled time without pay, citing a 6-minute grace period through emails. Other employees are also experiencing this. Is this practice legal in Missouri?

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Personal Injury for Missouri on
Q: Is it legal for my employer to make me clean feces without proper safety equipment?

In Missouri, I work at a gas station where my employer required me to clean up diarrhea off the bathroom floor, which was done by someone intentionally. Although there are written cleaning duties for bathroom maintenance, I have serious concerns about workplace safety because we lack proper gloves,... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Mar 23, 2025

Yes, your employer can require you to perform those duties. If you have concerns about doing so without rubber gloves, bring some from home.

2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Missouri on
Q: Seeking legal advice on filing retaliation, ADA discrimination, and constructive dismissal claims.

I filed a formal complaint against my supervisor for preferential treatment last year, which resulted in immediate retaliation, including disciplinary action, attempts to covertly replace me, exclusion from key team functions, and a harmful return-to-office policy. This affected my mental health,... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Mar 16, 2025

You haven’t actually asked a question, but I will attempt to provide some general information regarding discrimination claims.

You indicate you filed a complaint against your boss for preferential treatment. That is just another way of saying discrimination, so what was the basis for the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Employment Discrimination and Military Law for Missouri on
Q: Was fired after refusing tasks against disabilities, retaliatory action?

I was recently fired from my position as an electronics associate at Walmart. During a meeting with management, I expressed dissatisfaction with their performance. Subsequently, I was ordered to perform duties outside of my job description, specifically to push carts in the parking lot—a task I... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 23, 2025

Based on what you've described, your termination raises serious red flags about potential retaliation and disability discrimination. Federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), protect disabled veterans from discriminatory employment practices and require employers to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Overtime calculation for hourly manager with new management

I work as an hourly manager, and my employer recently told me that I need to work over 80 hours biweekly to qualify for overtime pay, stating that my recent hours of 28 and 44 do not meet this threshold. Previously, I always received overtime without hitting 80 hours. We've had new management... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Mar 5, 2025

The answer is "it depends." Generally speaking, if you work over 40 hours in one week (based on the payroll system's designation of when the week begins and ends), then you are entitled to receive overtime pay. However, I understand that certain entities are able to use a two week... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Wrongful termination due to attendance and FMLA retaliation in Missouri.

I believe I was wrongfully terminated from my job in Missouri due to attendance issues, possibly in retaliation for missing a few days. I worked at the company for almost two years and had accumulated some attendance points, but they were close to falling off. Recently, I was out sick and applied... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Mar 3, 2025

It is perfectly acceptable to discharge an employee for attendance. If you filed for FMLA but it hadn’t yet been reviewed, the common practice is to wait and see if it qualifies. If you had not formally submitted an FMLA request at the time you were discharged, then the company was acting on the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Is it legal for my supervisor to request a search without evidence and treat me differently based on gender?

In my workplace, a coworker reported missing money from her purse. Both I, a male employee, and a female coworker were questioned by our supervisor. In the hallway outside residents' rooms, and in the presence of the female coworker, I was publicly asked to turn out my pockets and open my... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Feb 21, 2025

As an at-will employee, you can be discharged at any time and for any reason or no reason at all. While asking you to turn out your pockets in front of others may have been somewhat harsh, it is not illegal. The employer was simply trying to get to the bottom of the situation, and you, as the most... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Hostile work environment and wrongful termination concerns in Missouri

I am seeking legal advice regarding a hostile work environment and potential wrongful termination at my job in Missouri. I work in the vehicle warranty/service contracts industry for a medium-sized company with about 200 employees. Over the past several months, I have documented multiple instances... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Feb 19, 2025

Mr. Eisenberg is correct. "Hostile work environment" and "wrongful termination" are legal terms of art that don’t mean what most laypersons assume they mean. A boss can legally treat you badly, unfairly, and harass you without creating a "hostile work environment"... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Intellectual Property for Missouri on
Q: I need a legal advice and a lawyer if possible. And also which law does it come under?

It's is for an friend, when she resigned her old job she did a factory reset on the laptop and returned it. Because the company manager did not notify her how to return it, in spite of her asking him. And now he is asking her to pay for the forensic on the laptop. Anything helps please.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 15, 2025

This situation falls under employment and contract law, specifically dealing with company property and termination procedures. It's crucial to note that your friend made reasonable attempts to get proper return instructions, which demonstrates good faith on her part.

The factory reset...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Returning laptop to company as they provided.

After my friend left from her previous job she factory reset her laptop before returning it to the company as they provided her. And now that company is trying to file a case on her to pay for forensic on the laptop. I need a legal advice on the issue like how she should take next steps

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg
answered on Feb 12, 2025

The company either filed a case or it has not yet filed the case. I assume the company would sue under Missouri's computer tampering statutes, Mo. Rev. Stat. 537.525. She should hire an attorney before the situation goes terribly wrong.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Election Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Missouri on
Q: Can someone hold an elected position if the have previously violated Rsmo 150.4855
Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Jan 23, 2025

Since there is no such Missouri statute, I would think that they probably can. I suggest that you be more careful typing statutory cites in order to get your question answered.

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law, Civil Rights, Domestic Violence and Federal Crimes for Missouri on
Q: If the us supreme court dropped my case because it wasn't discrimination is there any other way to be compensated t

We were in a 2 year long legal dispute and 2 weeks away from my jury visit and they dropped it. I have PTSD and had a mask exemption. I was placed off the clock for having one and wasn't allowed to work after that unless I masked. I was a USPS Mail CarrierI was placed off the clock for having... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Dec 13, 2024

If your case has gone that far with the courts finding you are not entitled to any recovery, then you are done.

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Libel & Slander for Missouri on
Q: If your employer fires you for something you are accused of, without proof you did anything wrong, can you sue?

I worked for a major hospital as a security officer. During this time a very violent juvenile patient came in, and we had to take physical measures to stop her from hurting staff. After the situation was resolved, I received several complaints against me from medical staff claiming I used excessive... View More

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Dec 3, 2024

Unless you are a union employee, you are an at will employee, and as such can be fired at any time and for any reason, or even no reason at all. Accordingly, what you describe is not a wrongful termination. I recognize that to most laypeople the term wrongful termination would apply to any case... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: I am employed at a daycare and am being asked to attend a mandatory training with no pay. Is this legal?

The daycare is operated inside of a church. The training is a CPR training for a couple hours. the training is being held when the daycare is closed on a holiday break.

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Nov 8, 2024

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that all hours worked are paid. Accordingly, the daycare may not require employees attend training offered without pay. However, the daycare could get around this by making CPR Certification a requirement of the job, with the training class an optional... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Civil Litigation, Contracts and Employment Law for Missouri on
Q: Does a handshake contract of me keeping a business running until it’s sold for compensation of $100,000 stand up in cour

I have worked for this business for 29 years took nine months to sell and that time I worked way more hours and couldn’t take off for anything now he says that they’re probably only $20,000 to give me

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Ronald J. Eisenberg
answered on Oct 26, 2024

In general, under Missouri law, contracts may be oral. In general, it is easier to enforce written contracts because if both sides sign, the terms are those of the document. There is an exception to the rule. Certain contracts must be in writing. It’s called the “statute of frauds”.... View More

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