On November 5, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition A to increase the state’s minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick leave. The Clark-Fox Policy Institute applauds Missouri voters for advancing this critical measure to support working families and strengthen our economy. The Institute has long elevated the importance of paid leave and an increased living wage as essential components of economic security and public health. Institute Director Gary Parker explains, “Investing in Missouri’s working families means investing in the state’s future. A stronger, healthier workforce is the foundation for a thriving economy. Proposition A is a step toward an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.”
For many Missouri families, every dollar counts. Raising the minimum wage from $12.30 to $15 an hour by 2026 will help nearly 1 in 4 Missourians afford their families’ basic needs. Raising the minimum wage allows workers to spend more in their local communities, which boosts the economy.
One of the most impactful provisions of Proposition A is the requirement for small businesses to provide up to five days and large employers up to seven days of paid sick leave. This leave can be used not only for workers’ own health needs but also to care for their children, spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and domestic partners. Too often, working parents and caregivers face an impossible choice between taking care of their health or the health of their loved ones and providing for their families. By guaranteeing paid sick days, Proposition A protects individual workers’ health and safeguards their families’ well-being.
While this increase is a significant step forward, it is important to recognize that $15 an hour is still not enough to cover a family’s basic needs in any county in Missouri. The reality is that working families in Missouri will continue to face significant challenges when it comes to covering housing costs, healthcare, childcare, and other essential needs. Proposition A is just a starting point, not an end goal, toward a living wage that can provide true economic security for all workers.
Learn more from the Clark-Fox Policy Institute:
- Read our policy brief on paid leave, Paid Leave: Good for Families, Businesses, and the Economy
- Read our policy brief on providing a living wage, Good Businesses Attract Good Employees: Promoting Employee and Family Wellbeing
- Read our recent policy alert on Missouri’s minimum wage