Workers' Rights Tool (Missouri)

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I want to learn my rights!

Have you recently had problems with your job in Missouri?

This tool will direct you toward the information you need.

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Please provide the following information Before we get started, please tell us a little about yourself. This information will be used only for staff at Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom to analyze patterns of workplace issues, and we may reach out to you if we think we can help.

First name

Last name

Email address

Phone number

Employer's Name

Zip code

Type of employment (such as line worker, CNA, delivery driver, etc.)

Can we reach out to you about key events?

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Worker Organizing* This field is required.Missouri workers are coming together to win better pay and safer working conditions. Would you like to share your contact information with Missouri Workers' Center so that you can consider participating? There is power in numbers!

YESNO

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I understand this is NOT legal advice and applies only in MISSOURI. * This field is required.I understand that, unless I've been specifically told otherwise by Heartland Center staff, no attorney has performed an analysis of facts and risks. I understand that it's important to consult an attorney about my own situation if I want legal advice. I understand that Heartland Center is providing the following information for educational purposes only.

YESNO

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Please proceed to the end of the survey and press "submit"

If you would like Heartland Center to have your contact information and responses.

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Select all the issues you are facing about your job.We will ask follow-up questions to connect you with the right information.

I lost my job.

My workplace is unsafe.

I was hurt at work.

I haven't been paid all my wages.

I faced discrimination or retaliation at work.

I'm having trouble getting unemployment benefits.

I'm having trouble with a background check.

I want to learn how to join with my coworkers to fight for a better workplace.

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Most non-government employees have a right to organize - meaning a right to come together with coworkers to push for better working conditions and pay. If you want to learn about your right to organize, visit our toolkit by clicking here.

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I lost my job.Losing your job can be stressful and overwhelming. Please select the option(s) that most applies to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I want to know my rights after losing my job.

I haven't gotten my last paycheck.

I have questions about applying for unemployment benefits.

My unemployment application was denied.

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If you're a Missouri worker, you have certain rights when you lose your job. You can learn about these rights and others that might apply to your situation by visiting our toolkit .

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You have a right to get your last paycheck. If your employer doesn't pay you on time, there are steps you can take. Visit our toolkit for more information.

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The unemployment benefits system can be complicated and confusing. Visit our toolkit to learn more about the process and to learn how to apply.

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I'm having trouble getting unemployment benefits.Facing unemployment can be stressful and overwhelming. Please select all the options that apply to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I want to apply, and I have questions about the process.

I already applied, and my application was denied.

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The unemployment benefits system can be complicated and confusing. Visit our toolkit to learn more about the process and to learn how to apply.

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Have you filed an unemployment appeal?

Yes.

No.

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How long has it been since your unemployment benefits were denied?

Less than 30 days.

More than 30 days.

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If you want to appeal your unemployment benefits, it's important to do so right away, and within 30 days of the date your unemployment benefits were denied. Based on what you've shared, you still have time to appeal. Here's a link to a toolkit about the appeals process.

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Great! You've already filed an appeal of your unemployment benefits. Visit our toolkit here to learn more about the process and what to expect at your hearing. You can also seek an attorney to represent you at your hearing if you wish.

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There are strict deadlines for appealing a denial of unemployment benefits in Missouri. You have 30 days to appeal from the date your benefits are denied. Look at the "determination" (written decision) that you got from the Division of Employment Security. There will be a date on that page that gives you the deadline to appeal. If that date has passed, the deadline to appeal has run out.

Here's a link to a toolkit about the unemployment appeals process that you can use to learn about the deadlines, in case you need to know in the future.

If you still think you can meet the deadline to appeal or give a good reason why you missed the deadline, you can submit an appeal on UInteract or using the form on DES's website.

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I was hurt at work.Workplace injuries can be stressful and overwhelming. Please select the option(s) that most applies to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I want to learn my rights to workers' compensation.

I want to learn about my rights to a safe workplace.

I was retaliated against after I got injured.

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It's important to report your injury in writing to your employer within 30 days of the date you were hurt at work. Visit our toolkit to learn about reporting your injury, as well as a form you can use to report your injury to your employer.

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It's important to report your injury in writing to your employer within 30 days of the date you were hurt at work. Here is a workers' compensation toolkit you can use to learn about reporting your injury, as well as a form you can use to report your injury to your employer.

You can also visit our toolkit about your OSHA rights if you want to learn how to report the safety concerns in your workplace to a federal agency.

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In Missouri, it's illegal for an employer to retaliate against you because you reported an injury, took time off for an injury, or sought workers' compensation. If this has happened to you, we recommend you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

You can also visit our toolkit for OSHA whistleblowers if the retaliation you faced was connected to your complaints about workplace safety.

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Visit our toolkit here to learn about your federal rights to a safe workplace and how to report safety concerns at work.

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When you apply for a job, your employer will likely do a background check. You have rights during this process. To learn more about your rights during a background check, click here to visit our toolkit.

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I faced discrimination or retaliation at work.Facing workplace discrimination and retaliation is difficult. Please select the option[s] that most applies to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I was discriminated against because of my race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or pregnancy status.

I was retaliated against for standing up for my coworkers who were facing discrimination.

I was retaliated against for reporting a safety concern.

I got injured at work and then felt retaliated against after I reported my injury or took time off for my injury.

I was retaliated against for joining with a coworker(s) and speaking up for better working conditions.

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Visit our toolkit here to learn about your rights to a discrimination-free workplace and to learn about steps you can take if you're facing discrimination or retaliation.

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How long has it been since your employer took a harmful action against you for reporting a safety concern?

Less than 30 days.

More than 30 days.

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If your employer retaliated against you for reporting a safety concern, you can file an OSHA whistleblower complaint. If you want to take this step, it's important to do so right away, and within 30 days of the date the retaliation happened. Based on what you've shared, you still have time to file a whistleblower complaint. Here's a link to a toolkit about filing a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

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If your employer retaliated against you for reporting a safety concern, you can file an OSHA whistleblower complaint. But there are strict deadlines for this complaint. You have 30 days from the date you faced retaliation. Based on what you've shared, it may be too late to file a complaint with OSHA.

Here's a link to a toolkit about the OSHA whistleblower complaint that you can use to learn about the deadlines, in case you need to know in the future.

You can also visit our general OSHA toolkit to learn about your rights to a safe workplace.

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In Missouri, it's illegal for an employer to retaliate against you because you reported an injury, took time off for an injury, or sought workers' compensation. If this has happened to you, we recommend you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

You can also visit our toolkit for OSHA whistleblowers if the retaliation you faced was connected to your complaints about workplace safety.

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Most non-government employees have a right to organize - meaning a right to come together with coworkers to push for better working conditions and pay. If you want to learn about your right to organize and what you can do when your employer tries to interfere with your right, visit our toolkit by clicking here.

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I haven't been paid all my wages.You deserve to get paid your wages. Please select the option(s) that most applies to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I never got my last paycheck.

I'm a tipped worker and something is weird about how I was paid.

I wasn't paid minimum wage or overtime.

My employer calls me an "independent contractor" but treats me more like an employee.

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You have a right to get your last paycheck. If your employer doesn't pay you on time, there are steps you can take. Visit our toolkit for more information.

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Visit our toolkit here to learn about your rights to minimum wage and overtime in Missouri, and to learn steps you can take if your rights are violated.

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Visit our Tipping Toolkit to learn about your rights to wages as a tipped worker, and to learn about steps you can take if your rights are violated.

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Visit our toolkit here to learn about the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, and to learn steps you can take if you think you have been misclassified (called an independent contractor when you're really an employee).

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My workplace is unsafe.Workplace hazards can be stressful and overwhelming. Please select the option(s) that most applies to you below so we can connect you with the right information.

I want to know my safety rights under federal law (OSHA).

I was retaliated against for reporting a safety issue.

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Visit our toolkit here to learn about your federal rights to a safe workplace and how to report safety concerns at work.

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How long has it been since your employer took a harmful action against you for reporting a safety concern?

Less than 30 days.

More than 30 days.

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If your employer retaliated against you for reporting a safety concern, you can file an OSHA whistleblower complaint. If you want to take this step, it's important to do so right away, and within 30 days of the date the retaliation happened. Based on what you've shared, you still have time to file a whistleblower complaint. Here's a link to a toolkit about filing a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

If you're a low-wage worker and you want to seek legal representation in filing your complaint, you can call 816-300-1896 to apply for representation.

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If your employer retaliated against you for reporting a safety concern, you can file an OSHA whistleblower complaint. But there are strict deadlines for this complaint. You have 30 days from the date you faced retaliation. Based on what you've shared, it may be too late to file a complaint with OSHA.

Here's a link to a toolkit about the OSHA whistleblower complaint that you can use to learn about the deadlines, in case you need to know in the future.

You can also visit our general OSHA toolkit to learn about your rights to a safe workplace.

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Did you get the information you needed?

Yes, all my questions were answered.

No, my issue wasn't covered.

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Type a questionYour issue falls outside the topics that we normally address. You can leave a brief description of your issue here, and if we have any resources for you, we will reach out.

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Thank you for using our Worker Problem Solver!

Please share a link to this resource with any other Missouri workers experiencing issues on the job.

Please press submit so that we get a record of your responses.