Summary of September 2025 Labor Law Updates for Kansas City, Missouri
This monthly roundup highlights the key labor and employment developments in Missouri for September 2025. It’s geared toward employers, HR professionals, and workers wanting to stay current on workplace rights in Missouri.
September 2025 saw several important developments in Missouri’s labor and employment law: courts reaffirmed strict procedural controls in unemployment appeals, a significant shift in state labor policy took effect with the repeal of paid sick leave under Proposition A, and a major union strike continued to draw attention in the St. Louis region. For employers, these changes stress the importance of compliance with procedural deadlines, updating postings and policies, and actively monitoring region-specific union activity. For employees, statutory rights may have shifted, and access to earned benefits may be in flux. If you have questions about how any of these developments affect your business or your rights in Missouri, please contact HKM Employment Attorneys at https://hkm.com.
Jayla Chairse v. Division of Employment Security — Court Ruling (Missouri Court of Appeals)
Date: September 16, 2025
Summary:
The Court considered an appeal by Chairse following a determination that she had been overpaid unemployment benefits. After appeals at the administrative level were dismissed as untimely, Chairse filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals on December 4, 2024. The court held that because the notice of appeal was not timely, it lacked jurisdiction to consider the merits and thus dismissed the appeal.
Implications:
This decision underscores the strict deadlines for unemployment benefit appeals in Missouri. Individuals and their counsel should be vigilant about filing deadlines when contesting administrative decisions; missing those deadlines may preclude a full judicial review.
Samantha Bordas v. FedEx Freight, Inc. & Division of Employment Security — Court Ruling (Missouri Court of Appeals)
Date: September 30, 2025
Summary:
Bordas, formerly employed by FedEx, challenged her disqualification from unemployment benefits, alleging a hostile work environment caused her absences and should excuse disqualification. However, instead of contesting the timeliness dismissal by the Labor & Industrial Relations Commission, she attempted to bring the substantive claim on appeal. The court declined to reach the merits, affirming that the untimely appeal deprived the court of jurisdiction.
Implications:
Missouri appellate courts will not entertain substantive disputes in unemployment cases if procedural deadlines are not met—even where underlying legal arguments (like hostile work environment) might deserve review. For practitioners, it reinforces the importance of procedural compliance in unemployment-related litigation.
Repeal of Paid Sick Leave Mandate — Legislative Development
Date: August 28, 2025 (effective date) / context in September 2025
Summary:
In 2024, Missouri voters adopted Proposition A, which imposed a paid sick leave requirement on many private employers and tied future minimum wage increases to inflation. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld Proposition A in April 2025.
However, in 2025 the legislature passed House Bill 567, which repeals the paid sick leave requirement and removes the inflation-based minimum wage increases. Because the bill lacked an “emergency clause,” the repeal did not take effect until August 28, 2025. As of September 2025, employers must rely on the revised legal landscape:
- The state’s minimum wage notice was updated, and the new minimum wage poster reflecting HB 567’s terms was released September 2, 2025.
- The Missouri Department of Labor’s rules page shows a pending proposed rule (8 CSR 20-2.010) relating to the Labor & Industrial Relations Commission, clarifying procedural contacts and meeting logistics.
- The Labor & Industrial Relations Commission docket of September 24, 2025 is publicly available.
Implications:
Employers should no longer assume a mandatory paid sick leave obligation under state law after August 28, 2025, but some uncertainty persists regarding accrued leave, unused balances, or employer obligations for the period when Proposition A was in force. Employers must use the updated minimum wage notices and ensure postings are current. Businesses should monitor the proposed rules for administrative changes in how the labor commission operates.
Boeing Machinists’ Strike — Labor/Union Activity
Date: Ongoing as of September 2025
Summary:
In August 2025, over 3,000 machinists in IAM District 837 initiated a strike against Boeing’s defense operations in St. Louis, Missouri, after rejecting a labor contract. In September, the strike continued, with contract proposals rejected, and Boeing reportedly hiring replacement workers in response.
Implications:
This high-profile labor dispute is significant in Missouri’s labor relations landscape. Employers, labor counsel, and HR departments (especially in manufacturing and defense sectors) should monitor developments such as back-to-work agreements, union strategy shifts, and possible ripple effects in local labor climates.
Conclusion: Looking Back on Missouri’s Labor Law Updates from September 2025
In light of recent Missouri and Kansas court rulings on retaliation, non‑compete enforcement, wage and hour violations, and hostile work environments, having local legal counsel is essential. At HKM Employment Attorneys in Kansas City, our team of dedicated employee advocates—including John Ziegelmeyer, Ethan Crockett, Brad Thoenen, Kevin Todd, and Glenn Winfrey—has secured over $250 million for clients since 2003. We specialize in representing employees in discrimination, breach of contract, unpaid wages, retaliation, and more, always with clear communication and no‑fee‑unless‑we‑win representation. If recent case outcomes in the region resonate with your situation, contact our Kansas City office to learn how our local expertise can help defend your rights.
