Can my employer deny my sick leave request?

Provided you have paid sick time available, your employer cannot deny your request. You are not responsible for ensuring proper staffing coverage or for someone to fill in for you.

What if my employer claims they are short-staffed?

Even if your employer is short-staffed or busy, they cannot deny your valid request to use accrued sick time. Staffing issues are the responsibility of the employer, not the employee. You cannot be required to find your own replacement or coverage when using sick time.

Can my employer make me work from home instead of using sick time?

No, your employer cannot require you to work from home instead of using your sick time. If you are sick and choose to use your accrued sick time, that is your right. Working from home would be your choice, not something your employer can mandate as an alternative to sick leave.

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*RSMO 290.606 (2) *

“2. Earned paid sick time shall be provided upon the request of an employee. Such request may be made orally, in writing, by electronic means, or by any other means acceptable to the employer. When possible, the request shall include the expected duration of the absence.”

RSMO 290.606(5) “5. An employer may not require, as a condition of an employee’s taking earned paid sick time, that the employee search for or find a replacement worker to cover the hours during which the employee is using earned paid sick time.”