Missouri Legislature is trying to weaken Employees’ legal rights in 2008

Two bills are being considered which threaten Employees’ rights, SB 1046 and HB 1858

The two bills are designed to make it more difficult for employees to win cases.

SB 1046 would weaken our whistleblower protections. In one part, it would take the “Exclusivity” standard of proof from case law and make it even more difficult to prove.. The exclusivity standard already makes no sense to me, as I rant and rave about in an article about retaliation. SB 1046 goes further and sets rigid standards for when someone has a whistleblower case.

SB 1046 info page. The Sponsor of SB 1046 is Rob Mayer, District 25 Republican.

Here’s the bill summary for SB 1046:

SB 1046 - Under this act, the employment-at-will doctrine shall not control when elements of a whistle-blower cause of action for wrongful discharge are established. This cause of action is established if an employee proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the employee reported to the proper authorities conduct that the employee had a good faith and reasonable belief violated a statute, constitutional provision, or regulation and a clearly mandated public policy; the employee was discharged; and the act of reporting was the exclusive factor in the discharge.

Similarly, the employment-at-will doctrine shall not control when elements of a refusal to commit an illegal act cause of action for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy are established. This cause of action is established if an employee proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the employer directed the employee to perform conduct that would, if completed, violate a statute, constitutional provision, or regulation and a clearly mandated public policy; the employee specifically refused to perform the act; the employee was discharged; and the refusal to perform the act was the exclusive factor in the discharge.

This act is similar to HB 1456 (2006) and SB 168 (2007).

Regarding HB 1858:

Do you know how corporations like to incorporate in Delaware (or other states)? Well, this means that when a Missouri resident sues the company, the case is heard in Federal Court rather than Missouri courts. Federal Courts usually dismiss employment cases rather than let them go to trial —– that’s what HB 1858 seeks to accomplish —- pushing employment discrimination cases into Federal Court so that they will be dismissed.

Here’s how HB 1858 accomplishes its goal: HB 1858 destroys our ability to sue the evildoing manager himself. We can still sue the company, but not the evildoer. Currently, we can often sue in Missouri Courts even if a company is incorporated in Delaware, if we ALSO sue the evildoing manager himself, because the manager is probably a Missouri resident. HB 1858 would prevent us from suing the evildoing manager himself.

HB 1858 would also eliminate our ability to win punitive damages from the State of Missouri when the State violates our civil rights.

HB 1858 info page. The chief Sponsor of HB 1858 is Edgar G. H. Emery, District 126 Republican.

Here’s the bill summary for HB 1858:

HB 1858 — Human Rights

Sponsor: Emery

This bill revises the definition of “discrimination” to an
adverse action motivated by race, color, religion, national
origin, ancestry, sex, or age as it relates to employment and
disability or familial status as it relates to housing. The bill
also removes any person directly acting in the interest of an
employer from the definition of “employer.”

Courts cannot award punitive damages to state governmental
agencies or corporations, including public school districts and
political subdivisions.