Missouri Workers’ Comp Lawsuit Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk

Missouri lawmakers have passed a bill to raise the standard for employees to sue for discrimination over workers’ compensation claims.

Senators voted 23-10 on May 8 to send the legislation to Republican Gov. Eric Greitens, who has said he wants to make the legal climate friendlier to businesses in the state.

The measure passed the House 101-46 last month.

Current law bans employers from discriminating against staffers for filing workers’ compensation claims.

The Missouri Supreme Court in 2014 ruled that a workers’ compensation claim must have been a contributing factor in the employees’ discrimination or firing. The legislation heading to Greitens’ desk would require that to have been the motivating factor.