Missouri
Overview
Please review the information below as well as the information on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course tab.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under both federal and state law. The federal government and most state governments have agencies that help employers and employees understand these legal requirements and ensure compliance with the laws.
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any characteristic set forth below is prohibited under state law in Missouri.
Missouri
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race
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color
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national origin
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ancestry
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sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions and including transgender status and non-stereotypical attributes or behaviors)
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sexual orientation
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gender identity or expression
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AIDS/HIV status
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lawful use of tobacco or alcohol
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head-of-household status
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genetic testing
pregnancy
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age (40-69)
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disability
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genetic information
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religion
Applicable Laws
Missouri
The primary state laws prohibiting employment discrimination, including harassment, are the Missouri Human Rights Act and the Missouri Law Against Genetic Discrimination.
The Missouri Supreme Court has held that sex discrimination may include discrimination based on transgender status and non-stereotypical attributes or behaviors. See Lampley v. Mo. Comm’n on Human Rights, 570 S.W.3d 16, 25-26 (Mo. 2019) (plaintiff who did not exhibit stereotypically male behavior and appearance stated a cause of action for sex discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act); R.M.A. by Appleberry v. Blue Springs R-IV Sch. Dist., 568 S.W.3d 420, 424-29 (Mo. 2019) (transgender student alleging sex discrimination stated a cause of action under the Missouri Human Rights Act).
Filing a Claim in Missouri
An employment discrimination or harassment claim may be filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, and/or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, depending on the employer’s size and the protected characteristic on which the claim is based. More information on federal law prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment is available on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page.
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a discrimination or harassment complaint or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.