By John and Ronda Whitt, Just Vision It
At Just Vision It – JVI for short – our goal is simple: We want to be the very best dye-sub manufacturer in the U.S. That means providing high-quality products, treating our employees well and staying adaptable in a fast-changing economy.
But the recent passage of Proposition A is making it harder to reach that goal.
In November, Missourians approved Proposition A, which mandates businesses provide paid sick leave and increases Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.
We support the intentions behind Prop A. In fact, we voted for it! We believe that employees deserve time off when they’re sick, and we already offer a paid time off (PTO) program that exceeds what the new law mandates.
The problem isn’t the idea – it’s the execution.
Prop A’s language leaves more questions than answers. The law’s documentation requirements are complicated. It creates new pathways for lawsuits against employers. We’re considering scrapping our current PTO policy to implement an entirely new one. If we do, employees will end up with a more rigid system that’s less beneficial to them.
That’s why it’s critical that Missouri legislators pass HB 567. This bill will provide much-needed clarity for business owners like us and help us avoid dismantling something that’s already working.
In addition, Prop A’s burden falls almost entirely on private businesses. Other employers, such as schools, churches and government institutions, are exempt. We’re simply asking for a level playing field.
If we want Missouri to remain a great place to do business, our policies need to reflect that. Please contact your legislators and ask them to pass HB 567.
