The State of Missouri has in place a specific Act, The Missouri Human Rights Act, which makes it improper and illegal to discriminate in the course of employment due to an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, anchestry, sex/gender, disability or age (age 40-69).  Improper employer acts incolude the following:

  • hiring and/or firing;
  • compensation, assignment or classification of specific employees;
  • transfer, promotion, layoff, or recall;
  • job advertisements;
  • recruitment;
  • testing;
  • use of company facilities;
  • training and apprenticeship programs;
  • fringe benefits;
  • pay, retirement plans, or disability leave; or
  • other terms and/or conditions of employment.

We hear a lot about employment harassment or workplace harassment and that is absolutely improper whether performed on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, or age.  It is also improper for an employee to be punished (or retaliated against) for filing a complaint against his/her employer, standing up to discriminatory practices, or particiipating in a discrimination hearing or investigation.  Further, an employer cannot even deny employment opportunities to someone because of his or her marriage or association with a person of a certain race, religion, national origin, or disability.  An employer must be careful during interviews as certain pre-employment questions may not be asked of potential hires.

Employers are required to notify all employees of their individual rights under the Missouri Human Rights Act via various posters available from the Missouri Department of Labor.

If you believe you have been a victim of employment discrimination and/or harassment, please contact me and we can talk about your circumstances.