MISSOURI EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND WAGES

 

WAGES IN MISSOURI

Minimum Wage | Missouri Labor (mo.gov)

The state minimum wage for 2021 is $10.30/hr.

Employers engaged in retail or service businesses whose annual gross income is less than $500,000 are not required to pay the state minimum wage rate. Employers not subject to the minimum wage law can pay employees wages of their choosing. For more information, please contact the United States Department of Labor.

MANY businesses are exempt from minimum wage. Did you know the average net income of a McDonald’s franchise is only $150,000 a year?  (And they cost one million dollars.) And other fast food franchises average $66,000.

Most small and medium size businesses do not fight the unfair advantages that corporations are given- construction grants, TIFs, Sales tax incentives. They only fight wage increases. That’s because workers don’t fight back.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN MISSOURI

Missouri employment laws are structured to benefit the employer, and to keep a surplus of unemployed workers so wages stay low.  In Missouri, only those that profit from labor matter. A lot of this is disguised as “freedom.”

Only the employer pays unemployment insurance, and the employer pays whether someone is getting benefits or not.  If payment is not awarded to the employee, it is not reimbursed to the employer. It stays in the State’s trust fund. Employers fight unemployment claims because they don’t want their insurance rates to go up.

The State does little for the unemployed worker.  EDD offices are chronically understaffed and overworked. This is not to save taxpayers money; this is so the state doesn’t have to assist workers. They require only three work searches.  They do not require people to come into the offices, or for employers to interview those on benefits. 

Employers often complain that “no one wants to work” but many employers automatically disqualify certain applicants.  The employer has freedom to reject you without reviewing your skills for any reason or no reason at all.

Workers in Missouri are not “saving” money by not paying unemployment insurance.  It’s just another rip-off disguised as “freedom.” (Similar to “you have the freedom to work without paying union dues” scam.) Workers would have more protection if they paid into unemployment insurance.

BREAKS? IF YOU’RE LUCKY

Missouri, and most states, do not require employees get a break for any reason, including going to the bathroom.  It is also not a Federal law.

If an employer DOES give breaks to employees, the Federal government regulates how breaks are paid.  (Beware- people go to the Federal site and see the rules for how breaks must be paid and think the break is guaranteed.)

States CAN require that employees be given a break.  But it is state by state, and only five states require it. And Missouri is not one of them. Meal and Rest Breaks: Your Rights as an Employee | Nolo Osha requires bathrooms be available, but only disabled workers are guaranteed the right to use the bathroom.

We cannot allow this to continue! Workers need to demand laws requiring adequate breaks at Federal and state levels!