KnowMo Laws shieldKnowMo LawsShow-Me State Laws
Workers' Compensation
RSMo 287.780effective 28 Aug 2017

Discrimination because of exercising compensation rights prohibited

In plain English

An employer cannot fire or treat an employee badly because that employee used their workers' compensation rights. If an employer does this, the employee can sue the employer for money damages. The workers' compensation rights have to be a real reason — something that actually made a difference — in the employer's decision to fire or mistreat the employee.

Word-for-word law

287.780. Discrimination because of exercising rights prohibited — for defined. — No employer or shall or against any employee for exercising any of his or her rights under this chapter when the exercising of such rights is the motivating factor in the discharge or discrimination. Any employee who has been or discriminated against in such manner shall have a civil action for damages against his or her employer. For purposes of this section, "motivating factor" shall mean that the employee's exercise of his or her rights under this chapter actually played a role in the discharge or discrimination and had a on the discharge or discrimination.

(RSMo 1939 § 3725, A.L. 1973 H.B. 79, A.L. 2017 S.B. 66)

Prior revision: 1929 § 3335

(1993) The rights and provided by this section are of, in addition to, any rights provided by a . for retaliatory discharge under statute is not by federal labor law. Cook v. Hussmann Corp., 852 S.W.2d 342 (Mo. ).

(1998) Law does not abolish the "at-will" doctrine but provides a limited . Crabtree v. Bugby, 967 S.W.2d 66 (Mo.banc).

(2006) Section applies to employees alleging that an employer discharged them for previously against a former employer. Hayes v. Show Me Believers, Inc., 192 S.W.3d 706 (Mo.banc).

Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.

View official source

Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 287.780: Discrimination because of exercising compensation rights prohibited | KnowMo Laws