Telling Somebody At Work
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 285.575 — the Whistleblower's Protection Act, for reports to the proper authorities
Missouri's Whistleblower's Protection Act makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discharge a protected person because of that status. It applies to employers with six or more employees, and not to the state or its political subdivisions or to religious organizations.
- An employee who reported an unlawful act of the employer to the proper authorities.
- An employee who reported to the employer serious misconduct that violates a clear mandate of public policy found in a constitutional provision, statute or regulation.
- An employee who refused to carry out a directive that would be a violation of the law if completed.
Who the proper authorities are. A governmental or law enforcement agency, an officer of the employer, the employee's supervisor, or the employee's human resources representative. A report to the very person who committed the act does not count, and a supervisory or executive employee reporting on matters they are employed to report on is not a protected person.
What is recoverable. Back pay and reimbursement of medical bills directly related to the violation, doubled as liquidated damages where the employer's conduct is proved outrageous by clear and convincing evidence. No punitive damages, and no claim under the section where another statute already gives a private right of action. Either side may demand a jury.
Federal statutes protect reports in particular fields, such as workplace safety, securities and federal contracts, with their own agencies and deadlines, and are not on this page. Whether a particular report was protected, and whether what followed was retaliation for it, are questions for a licensed Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 285.575 — Whistleblower's Protection Act; protected persons; prohibited practices; remedies
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.