Filing a Wage and Hour Claim – Missouri

1. Does Missouri have state overtime laws that are different from federal law?

Under Missouri law, employers must pay employees at a rate of at least one and one-half the employee’s regular hourly wage for working more than forty hours in one week. This is the same rate as federal overtime  laws mandate.

Some employees are exempt from the overtime requirement. Exempt employees include those engaged in administrative, professional, executive, agricultural, motor carrier, or outsides sales activities.

2. Does Missouri have a minimum wage that is different from federal law?

Missouri’s minimum wage is 13.75 per hour,  which is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Employers are required to pay tipped employees at least 50 percent of the minimum wage, $6.875 per hour, plus any amount necessary to bring the employee’s total compensation to a minimum of $13.75 per hour. See the Missouri website for more information.

3. Does Missouri have meal and rest break requirements, unlike federal law?

Missouri does not have any meal or rest break requirements.

4. How do I file a wage/hour or labor standards claim in Missouri?

Missouri has separate forms for filing a minimum wage claim  and filing an unpaid wages claim.

5. What are my time deadlines?

If you have a wage/hour claim, do not delay in contacting an attorney to file a private lawsuit. There are strict time limits in which wage claims must be filed. In order to recover under state law in Missouri, you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date that the claim arose. As you might have other legal claims with shorter deadlines, do not wait to file your claim until your time limit is close to expiring.

6. How can I or my attorney pursue a claim in court in Missouri?

In Missouri, employees can file a private lawsuit to recover unpaid wages plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.