Missouri § 287.780 Discrimination because of exercising compensation rights prohibited — civil action for damages — motivating factor defined.

Missouri Statutes

§ 287.780 — Discrimination because of exercising compensation rights prohibited — civil action for damages — motivating factor defined.

Missouri § 287.780

Title XVIIILABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Ch. 287Workers' Compensation Law

This text of Missouri § 287.780 (Discrimination because of exercising compensation rights prohibited — civil action for damages — motivating factor defined.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 287.780 (2026).

Text

No employer or agent shall discharge or discriminate 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 discharged 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 determinative influence on the discharge or discrimination.

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No employer or agent shall discharge or discriminate 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 discharged 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 determinative influence on the discharge or discrimination.

Legislative History

(RSMo 1939 § 3725, A.L. 1973 H.B. 79, A.L. 2017 S.B. 66) Prior revision: 1929 § 3335 (1993) The rights and remedies provided by this section are independent of, in addition to, any rights provided by a collective bargaining agreement. Claim for retaliatory discharge under statute is not preempted by federal labor law. Cook v. Hussmann Corp., 852 S.W.2d 342 (Mo. en banc). (1998) Law does not abolish the "at-will" doctrine but provides a limited exception. Crabtree v. Bugby, 967 S.W.2d 66 (Mo.banc). (2006) Section applies to employees alleging that an employer discharged them for previously filing workers' compensation claim against a former employer. Hayes v. Show Me Believers, Inc., 192 S.W.3d 706 (Mo.banc).